EJP | News | Israeli fury over Swedish visa for Hamas politician

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Israeli fury over Swedish visa for Hamas politician

Updated: 05/May/2006 15:41

Mark Regev, Israeli foreign ministry's spokesman

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The Israeli government has expressed its regret after Sweden granted a leading Hamas politician a visa to visit the Scandinavian country.

The Swedes appeared to be breaking with common EU policy when they gave Palestinian minister for refugee affairs, Atef Odwan, permission to enter the country in order to attend a refugee conference being held 6 - 8 May.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev told EJP: “Israel regrets the decision of the Swedish government to give an entry visa to a Hamas activist. The way to move forward in the Middle East peace process for the international community to stand by the Quartet's benchmark.”

Since the election of a Hamas government to the Palestinian Legislative Council in the January elections, the EU, alongside the US and UN, has consistently refused to have contacts with the terror group until it recognises Israel and all prior Palestinian agreements with it and renounces violence.

No policy change

Although other European countries, most notably France and Belgium, have refused entry to Hamas officials, the Swedish ambassador to Israel insisted there was no challenge to EU policy.

Robert Rydberg, told the Jerusalem Post that the decision to issue the visa "was not a break with EU policies, since there is no EU policy on the issuing of visas to Hamas representatives."

Despite efforts to convince Hamas of the need to do this by Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, the government has refused to give in and change its policies.

The decision to allow Odwan to attend the conference, being held in the town of Malmo, was clearly welcomed by Odwan and other Hamas officials. "I appreciate the position by Sweden which dealt with the issue not on political grounds but on purely academic grounds," Odwan said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri added: “We encourage other European countries to follow the brave move by the Swedish authorities.”

Others denied

According to reports, Adwan was one of eight Palestinians who were given visas to attand the event in Malmo, although two other Hamas representatives were apparently denied access to the city for a 16 May visit.

In reaction, the Jerusalem Post quoted a “senior government official” who said that the decision encouraged and legitimized terror, flew in the face of international law that makes it illegal to give indirect assistance to terrorist organizations, and harmed those trying to create conditions conducive to a diplomatic process.

And the decision came the same day that newly confirmed prime minister Ehud Olmert spoke about the need for European support for his convergence plan to succeed.

"Israel wants to improve its understandings and agreements with European countries," Olmert said. "Today's European leaders understand better the complexity of the situation in the Middle East."

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