Bildt on hand to welcome deported Swedes
Published: 3 Jun 10 08:25 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/27006/20100603/
Sweden's foreign minister was at Istanbul airport in the early hours of Thursday morning to assist Swedes deported following their participation in the Gaza aid convoy.
- Sweden to support Palestinian UN upgrade (29 Nov 12)
- Ship to Gaza activists taken to Israeli port (21 Oct 12)
- Ship to Gaza boarded by Israeli soldiers: report (20 Oct 12)
"There were a lot of practical issues about baggage, things which had been taken from them, and then the onward journey home, but we also had a chance to talk about it and what they had been through," Bildt wrote on his blog, Alla Dessa Dagar.
The foreign minister praised the Turkish authorities for their work in bringing the Swedes home.
"We can thank the close cooperation with the Turkish government for the fact that it has gone fast. We have very positive and close links.
But Bildt warned that the issue remains a long way from a resolution and much remained to be done.
"First and foremost their possessions need to be returned, but then the political takes over. I will first open a dialogue with my foreign ministry colleagues around Europe over the demands which must be made for an independent investigation."
The issue is set to be raise at the upcoming meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg on June 14th, Bildt said adding that the discussion will lead to the larger question of the blockade of Gaza.
Carl Bildt declined to clarify whether sanctions were planned against Israel following the attacks on the convoy which have so far claimed nine lives, with dozens more injured.
"Israel has been hit pretty hard by what has happened. They have created themselves a massive political problem - their key relationship with Turkey is in the balance, as well as relations with the EU," Bildt said.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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Cuddling up to the Turks instead of denouncing the Turkish gov for their atrocities against the Kurds.
@jack: I think they have cried their friends already, and the best way
to show respect to their friends is to make their cause succeed.
I am so glad that Swedish politicians are talking about taking some constructive and punitive action against Israel's illegal and brutal activities.
And about bringing an end to this illegal blockade of collective punishment.
Great news. Hopefully these tragic and unnecessary murders by Israel will have some positive outcome for the suffering being inflicted in Gaza.
What a contrast with this statement fromBildt and the weasly, weak words from the UK and the USA of "REGRET" and "CONCERN" only.
Bildt is playing populist games. Once Sweden goes down that road, after a while it will create problems for Sweden as well.
Bildt and the other nazi morons in the Swedish governemnt are now hounorable members in the axis of evil
I am a Jew living in Sweden who, for no reason, is constantly beseiged with hateful speech re: Jews and Israel, where I've never been. It seems there is so much BS going on everywhere, that the obcessive focus on Israel is extremely disproportionate. I'm pretty sure if Israel were not a Jewish state, it would get far less attention. As to the arguments against its status as such; Sweden's flag has a cross signifying a Christian state- it has an official church. Many countries around the world are either like Sweden or actual theocracies. Only with Israel, a Jewish state, are all kinds of arguments employed cynically opposing its existence on these grounds.
If Sweden (happily, a relatively peaceful place), for example, were the frequent recipient of missles from Norway into Dalarna, and those missles were being shipped to Norway for that specific purpose by some third party, I'm guessing Sweden might consider some kind of seaborn interdiction. Most likely, though, NATO, the EU, or some other body would summarily end it.
When you guys finally face up to the fact that Israel hasn't got any friends anymore, you are all going to have to ask yourselves why, and what the consequences will be. Those questions are being examined in Israel right now.
I think you are all terrified of the answer, and so you should be. A friendless Israel is unsustainable, and you know it. You are lashing out (#1 #3 #6), and your desperate fear is in these posts for all to see.
Posters here, and Israel itself, had better learn how to behave soon, or your many enemies (and you made a brand new one on Monday - Turkey) will turn on you again, and your few remaining friends (you lost a whole lot more on Monday) will abandon you.
With the Dubai & Gaza Flotilla incidents, Israel has finally confirmed itself to be the murderous, rogue nation that the vast majority of people worldwide know it is. Only buffoons like you would sucker for its pathetic PR-line.
As has already been said: Israel will deserve everything that comes to it over the next few years. And we'll all have smug grins on our faces when it comes about.
"My increasing respect goes to Carl Bildt.
I am so glad that Swedish politicians are talking about taking some constructive and punitive action against Israel's illegal and brutal activities.
And about bringing an end to this illegal blockade of collective punishment.
Great news. Hopefully these tragic and unnecessary murders by Israel will have some positive outcome for the suffering being inflicted in Gaza.
What a contrast with this statement fromBildt and the weasly, weak words from the UK and the USA of "REGRET" and "CONCERN" only."
I could not have said it better!!
I agree 100%.
The idiots on the ships from Ireland are of the 32 soverignty organisation and the RIRA, both of whom are opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland. Not exactly peace activists. Also there is morons from Eamon Mac Canns Socialist worker Party, whom I can only describe as a bunch of dope smoking parasites. They are actually more screwed up than Sein Fein or the DUP, which I assume is deliberate on there part.
This is purely to create trouble. Those activists have created a lot of trouble in Northern Ireland and are now spreading it to the middle east.
I am also worried that this will get into people's heads that Irish are all insane and stupid. It took years of mostly economic sucess to get people to stop calling people thick paddies. Now it looks like going back to that. That is the real damage from an Irish point of view.
# "how the international community feels"#, they don't care how we feel.
The fact is they're all hypocrites, not a word about the atrocities in the Sudan, Turkey, West Africa. Even worse is condoning the actions of these so called "peaceful activists".
"the vase majority of the world is with Israel" sic
Can you link me one independant newpaper editorial, or one speech from an independant politician that "is with Israel" on this issue?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/01/israel-no-choice-gaza-flotilla
@Kronaboy:- same as on the other thread http://www.ntv.ru/novosti/194026 shows they're lying
And all those kind words towards Turkey.... has anyone forgot why they are still not part of the EU?
I would gladly answer on behalf of boby. Here are a few editorials
From National Review:
http://article.nationalreview.com/435253/flotillas-and-falsehoods/mona-charen
and more importantly, the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/opinion/02friedman.html
There were many other links I wanted to give here (from places like Fox, Daily News, the Australian, and others), but the comment filter would not allow that. As for a politician supporting Israel, is the American Vice president good enough for you?
The world body should demand more than lifting the embargo on Gaza. Israel should leave all the land it occupied in 1967 without conditions attached. This is the recognized boarder and it should be respected without conditions. The US government is part of the problem and people of Europe and the US should boycott Israeli goods until it gives Palestenians their independence.
The world body should demand more than lifting the embargo on Gaza. Israel should leave all the land it occupied in 1967 without conditions attached. The US government is part of the problem.
We the people of Europe and the US should boycott Israeli goods until it gives Palestinians their independence or allows Palestinians to vote in united Israel-Palestinian country, where religion of both nations is banished from politics for good.
Preliminary questions for Mr.Bildt:
http://www.israpundit.com/
It's significant that the day after Yom Kippur is Election Day in Sweden .Till then, nearly all the political parties from the Left thru the Centre, to the Right, are hustling for the Muslim vote.
At this stage it even looks like Islamic Turkey now has more than one leg into the EU( the Old Roman Empire). At least Mr. Bildt who unlike Germany & the Vatican, is already a strong supporter for their entry into the European Union has now found more common ground with his Turkish partners and their number one priority seems to be, not Afghanistan, or Iran or Pakistan or even North Korea. Their number one priority - do or die , seems to be, not Israel but Hamas' Gaza. Mr. Bildt was not weeping as heavily when Hamas was exterminating Fatah before taking over the Gaza from which Ariel Sharon had removed the last Jewish "settler"- after which Palestinian rockets rained down on Sederot and environs for eight long years, without interruption.
With all the talk about AID, where is Gunilla Carlsson? How come we don't hear her voice?
"But Bildt warned that the issue remains a long way from a resolution and much remained to be done."?
Indeed for Sweden's most active Foreign Minister Carl Bildt this is not a time for making understatements considering the kinds of noises coming from the United Arab League today - and the new wave of enthusiasm that has seized Terrorist Hamas supporters:
http://www.memri.org/content/en/main.htm
There's an article in Arutz Sheva about "The Helsinki Principle" which must interest you and all the others who question the necessity and the legality of Israel's actions at sea - as if the flotilla was about to suffer a change of mind and reverse discretion, head back to from whence they came:
http://www.freeman.org/other.htm
Probably Sweden is very Cold ?& boring place !
Taking pictures with some Islamofascists & Collaborators !
Now you Israeli loving asholes, can you tell me how that could ever be construed as self defence?
The IDF is the biggest terrorist organisation going.
I suppose the families of those killed should be grateful that they got the bodies back with their organs intact
So, are you King of the World now, threatening Isreael and folks like me and J Jack, Hagrid and bbeynch?? Posters should "behave soon"? Are you the hall monitor, judge, jury, and executioner? I guess the lesson here is.... don't cross Kev. And don't express yourself. So sayeth the Oracle of TheLocal.se, a wholely owned subsidiary of the far political left and Muslim radical right.
@27 Dew_Pansy. Thanks for the suggestion. Nice to see you living up to your name. I favor "Gutless Sweden" and "Cowardly Bildt"
@30 calebian22. US Jews are 2% of the population and voted 78% for Obama in 2008. You think the Dems are scared of them? Your math does not compute. James Baker once said (during Bush-I) that he did not care about Jews being angry with Bush policies because they vote Democratic anyway. So, Obama the Muslim is siding with Israel (odd accusation as he cancelled a visit by Netanyahu and has said nothing important publicly)?
post mortum results.. they just received the body?
The real reason is that Israel is a true and natural pertner to the west. Its calture, values and politics are western. It is in the front line of technological developments, almost all the leading technological companies in the world have development centers in Israel. Sure, the media does not reflect this, as it is controlled by left islamo-fachists, like it has been always. But fact is, thet Israel is strongly backed by the west for the last 65 years, and will it will continue to be supported the same way.
I find it funny that all these islamo fachists like Kevin are naive enough to think that something is going to change in their favour. After 65 years one could imagine that they should learn and drop the dream of destroying Israel.
Just the past week or any week you read the news coming in from Jamaica, the Congo, trouble spots in South America, East Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, bombings in mosques, bazaars, market places, hospitals and you smell the stench of death right where you are.
No one is happy about the deaths that have occurred.
Still, Israel is one of the few countries in the Middle East and environs,where medical attention is given even to enemy combatants. "Warrior" the autobiography of Ariel Sharon opens in Egypt with the Israeli soldiers giving water to the Egyptian soldiers who were almost dying of thirst, right there in the desert ). In Israel autopsies are conducted, people are identified, bodies buried, not just bundled in mass graves.
During the suicide-bomber Initifadas you'd have bodies blown into splinters of bone and unidentifiable bits and pieces of scattered flesh and blood and you'd see personnel of the Magen David Adom, collecting every little piece of flesh, for the last rites and the honour accorded the dead : a proper burial.
When Mattias Gardell and his wife were still unaccounted for my fear was that they had been thrown overboard.....a possible fate for those who die at sea......
Some insight into the life of an Israeli soldier:
http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Autobiography-Ariel-Sharon/dp/074322566X
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protests_during_the_EU_summit_in_Gothenburg_2001#The_shootings_at_Vasaplatsen
What is valid for a Swedish police officer is also valid for an Israeli soldier.
HATS OFF for your COMMENT 34 :D
"As a JEW I am ashamed" : BARNEY FRANK!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/02/barney-frank-as-a-jew-ashamed_n_597331.html
"VATICAN" CALLS ISRAEL OCCUPATION 'IN JUSTICE'
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/israeli-occupation-unjust-says-vatican/story-e6frfku0-1225874281780
Are you at all concerned for the proper and unbiased application of International law?
If you are then I ask you to stand up for the law, regardless of who is transgressing it.
The commandos had no legal right to board the ship in the first place.
Plus all the eye-witnesses are saying the same thing that shootings by the Israelis occurred BEFORE the commandos illegally boarded the ship.
This is a very serious transgression by Israel that al these pathetic and immoral attempts to paint the commandos as the victims will not assuage.
"NATO HQ in Brussels is today a very unhappy place. There is a strong understanding among the various national militaries that an attack by Israel on a NATO member flagged ship in international waters is an event to which NATO is obliged - legally obliged, as a matter of treaty - to react.
I must be plain - nobody wants or expects military action against Israel. But there is an uneasy recognition that in theory that ought to be on the table, and that NATO is obliged to do something robust to defend Turkey." craig Murray
Postmortems have been carried out before the funerals which are now going on. Bodies where recieved 24 hours ago. look at the BBC.
I can sympathise with Jews posting here they have a problem as this Rabbi said in a piece in the Guardian.
The Israeli assault on the Gaza flotilla will make waves that extend far beyond the Mediterranean coastline where the bloody events took place. And those waves will reach me, my community and then all of us.
The first wave will touch me as a Jew (and a rabbi to boot) because there is an assumption that I am totally supportive of all the actions of the Israeli government and the forces that purportedly operate on its behalf. If I dare to say otherwise, I am condemned by my own community as a self-hating Jew, a sympathiser with Muslim terrorists whose only wish is to see the destruction of the state of Israel.
So with all that to look forward to it is very hard for any Jew to speak truthfully and condemn the Israeli over reaction
If these ar#eholes had complied with the Israelis requests then none of this would have occurred
Are u certain they were only flying Turkish flags?
Turkey attacking Israel!! Now that would be suicide.
According the the UN conventions, it's only piracy when commited by private entities. State actors are not included.
But another fact you will throw out of your numskulls of course, but worth mentioning nonetheless.
The shootings in Göteborg WERE NOT the work of the Swedish Polis. Every single officer on duty that day had their firearms examined by independent forensics to find residue which would determine if they had been fired or not. Not one single weapon was found to have been fired, NONE AT ALL!! It is suspected that the shots were fired from quite some distance away, possibly from the top of a building, hence the fact they only caused comparatively minor wounds. A polis weapon fired from such close range would have caused severe internal injuries "most probably" resulting in death. You need to get your facts straight before opening your fat mouth. You're embarrassing yourself.
The Israelis that boarded the Flotilla were nothing short of a Murder Squad. Subduing unarmed rioters should be done with rubber bullets, CS gas, stun grenades and pepper spray. Not by emptying full magasines of live rounds into unarmed victims heads, and doing it in international waters to boot.
Israel - the nation of cowardly pirates.
Besides, if they gave the aid through Israel, it wouldn't make it to Gaza in full form anyway.
"The commandos had no legal right to board the ship in the first place"
In previous posts I have meticulously proven how the seizure was legal, according to the San Remo Manual on International Law applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea. You can look it up.
"an attack by Israel on a NATO member flagged ship in international waters is an event to which NATO is obliged - legally obliged, as a matter of treaty - to react"
You mean, the same NATO who, in a totally unnecessary war a mere few years ago, indiscriminantly massacred tens of Serb civilians, making the IDF look like saints in comparison? And the same NATO who didn't do squat when a British Royal Navy vessel was seized in IRAQI waters by Iran, and its crew was abducted and embarassed?
I would take this kind of NATO with a grain of salt.
And anyone who thinks that Israel would win a fight with Turkey is living in their own little dreamworld. Turkey would walk all over Israels untried & untested conscript forces, in very little time. They're far too powerful for Israel. And long may it be that way.
Why cant you be civilized (in your comments and ways)?
Show your points without all this hate.
We are all humans.
Jews, Muslims, Christians, even the ones that believe in the sun or in the god of coca cola.
We are all going to die at the end, every single one of us.
You are not better then me - and I am not better then you.
In the past Muslims and Jews lived happily together - for centuries!
There is a place for everybody in this planet.
We are all the same - religions are just different colors of the shirts that we are wearing.
We are made of the same DNA, we are all brothers and sisters!
If you are Palestine you are 75% related to Jewish people since you have common ancestors!
Peace Now for both sides - For all of us!
Me?
I am personally supporting the P.L.O and not Hamas since his declared goal is to Fight fight and fight the Israelis wich of course will lead to the Israelis attacking back stronger. Who will suffer? all of us. the mothers. the fathers. the kids.
According the the UN conventions, it's only piracy when commited by private entities. State actors are not included.
But another fact you will throw out of your numskulls of course, but worth mentioning nonetheless.
My math does compute when you count the evangelical Christians and many Independants who support Israel. The notion that only Jews in the US support Israel is uninformed on your part, as well as Baker's. If you don't believe me, just wait and watch the continued support of Israel by the US government. Long live Israel!
I have heard a number of people mention they wish to boycot unethical companies, may I suggest Com-Hem which is now unfortunately a part of the Carlyle group.
Peace to every one and I hope you all remember to have a wonderful weekend with your children:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/headline9637e7.jpg
http://palestinianvoice.files.wordpress.co...ad_children.jpg
Reports have just arrived MV Rachel Corrie has been illegally boarded by IDF fascists, may I invite all my brothers and sisters to recite a short prayer for our Martyred Sister Rachel Corrie and the 111 children poisoned while gold mining in Nigeria.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Vr8Xl0cbUZA/SXDV...Dead_Son_sm.jpg
Its the toll of innocents that bears more and more strongly against Israels chosen methods. These chosen to avoid a settlement with Palestine as a sovereign independent State and with Jerusalem as an Open city for Christians Jews and Muslims to worship with mutual respect (in some cases sharing) of religeous sites.