Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Sweden
Sweden: its Jewish community, relations with "Israel" and recognition of Palestine
About 20,000 Jews live in Sweden, according to the Swedish Jewish community as cited by the World Jewish Congress (WJC).[1] Sweden recognised "Israel" in 1949[2] and recognised the State of Palestine on 30 October 2014.[3]
Jewish community
The largest community is in Stockholm, with about 4,500 registered members, and there are communities in Malmö, Gothenburg and Helsingborg. The WJC says that the community in Umeå was "forced to close down due to threats from right-wing extremists". Judiska Centralrådet (the Official Council of Swedish Jewish Communities) represents Jewish interests with parliament and government.[1]
Israeli state and commercial ties
Diplomacy
The Israeli foreign ministry's 2011 list of missions records relations with Sweden as recognition in January 1949, with "Israel" represented by its embassy in Stockholm.[2] The WJC says that Sweden's 2014 recognition of Palestine "strained these relations", and that relations improved under foreign minister Ann Linde (2019–2022) and the government of Ulf Kristersson; foreign minister Tobias Billström visited "Israel" in January 2023. The Israeli embassy is at Strandvägen 58, 115 23 Stockholm.[1]
Arms trade
SIPRI records Swedish orders for Israeli Litening targeting pods for JAS-39 Gripen combat aircraft, including Litening-5 pods ordered in 2020 and 2024. In 1951 "Israel" bought 25 second-hand P-51D Mustang fighters from Sweden.[4]
Trade
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reports that "Israel" imported goods worth $1,013.1 million from Sweden in 2025 (2024: $735.1 million) and exported goods worth $166.6 million to it (2024: $156.1 million).[5]
Political interference
Recognition of Palestine
The Swedish government said on 30 October 2014 that it considered "the international law criteria for the recognition of Palestine have been satisfied". Foreign Minister Margot Wallström said that the purpose was "to contribute to a future in which Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and security".[3]
UN voting
Sweden voted in favour of the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.[6]
See also
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Denmark
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Finland
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Norway
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Estonia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Latvia
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Lithuania
- Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Iceland
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 World Jewish Congress, Community in Sweden worldjewishcongress.org, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, via UNISPAL, Sweden recognizes State of Palestine and increases aid United Nations, 30 October 2014, accessed 25 October 2026.
- ↑ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Arms Transfers Database SIPRI, trade register for Israel as supplier, 1950–2025, data generated 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Foreign Trade Statistics Monthly, Table D1: Trade Countries – Imports and Exports CBS, December 2025 issue (library copy).
- ↑ United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).