Sweden to Recognize Palestinian State, Ramallah Hails 'Historic' Move

Sweden's new prime minister Stefan Loefven said Friday the Nordic country would recognize a Palestinian state, underlining his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

"A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and the will to co-exist peacefully," Loefven said in his inaugural address to parliament. 

That should take place with respect for the "legitimate demands of the Palestinians and the Israelis as regards their right to self-determination and security", he added. 

Loefven's Social Democratic-Green Party coalition -- which formed a minority government on Friday -- is more supportive of demands for a Palestinian state than the previous center-right administration.  

Both the Greens and the Social Democrats opposed a decision by former foreign minister Carl Bildt to not give Swedish support to a U.N. vote recognizing Palestine. 

The Social Democrats, the largest party in the Swedish parliament, wrote in their election manifesto that "Israel's war crimes must be investigated and the occupation of Gaza lifted."

The party added that "Sweden and the rest of the world must actively support its (Palestine's) work towards reconciliation."

The prime minister did not specify whether the policy would be submitted to a vote in parliament.

Later on Friday, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat described Sweden's decision to recognize a Palestinian state as "courageous," calling on other EU states to follow suit.

"We salute the announcement by the Swedish prime minister," said Erakat in the West Bank administrative capital of Ramallah.

"We hope that all countries of the European Union will take the same courageous and remarkable decision... as there is no reason not to recognize the Palestinian state."

Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said "the time has come for the entire world to recognize the Palestinian state."

And foreign minister Riyad al-Malki welcomed what he called Sweden's "historic" commitment to freedom, dignity and human rights.