SWEDEN PULLS OUT OF MILITARY EXERCISES BECAUSE OF ISRAELI PARTICIPATION

Sweden Pulls Out of Military Exercises Because of Israel.
Sweden has withdrawn from European military exercises due to be held next month in Italy because of Israel’s participation, Swedish foreign ministry and military officials said on April 26. The Spring Flag air exercises in Sardinia May 8-25 “have been organized for peacekeeping operations and we don’t want to take part because of Israel’s participation,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Nina Ersman told AFP.

The nine countries due to participate — Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden — were to train together for a future collaboration in international peacekeeping operations.

But Israel would unlikely be able to be involved in any such peacekeeping operations, the foreign ministry said, calling into question the need for the exercises. “Israel is not currently conducting any peacekeeping operations,” Ersman said.

Another ministry spokesman, Christian Carlsson, told Swedish Radio: “Our analysis of the situation for the time-being is that an Israeli participation in this kind of peacekeeping effort is unlikely given the political situation in the Middle East”.