Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Israel
The Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Israel (Sweden–Israel Friendship Association; formerly Samfundet Sverige-Israel) is a Swedish organisation that campaigns in support of "Israel". It describes itself as a religiously and politically unaffiliated friendship association whose chief aims are cultural exchange and information about "Israel". It says it has about 3,000 members in about 20 local associations across Sweden, and that it is a member of the European Alliance for Israel (EAI), a network of European "Israel" friendship associations founded in 2012.[1]
History
The association's history page says that Samfundet Sverige-Israel was founded through an appeal by the history professor Hugo Valentin in the Riksdag building on 8 May 1953; that the Stockholm society's public launch was a gathering in the Gyllene Salen of Stockholm City Hall in February 1954, with Golda Meir, then labour minister of "Israel", as guest of honour and main speaker; and that local societies were founded in Gothenburg and Malmö in 1954, when the societies had 560 members. It dates the formal start of the nationwide organisation, still then under the name Samfundet Sverige-Israel, to 1978.[2]
The same history page lists the chairs of the national body as Torgny T:son Segerstedt (1978–1985), Knut Ahnlund (1985–1989), Ann-Cathrine Haglund (1989–1994), Jan-Erik Wikström (1994–1997), Örjan Kättström (1997–2000), Hadar Cars (2000–2003), Gunnar Hökmark (2003–2012), Elisabeth Svantesson (2012–2013), Annelie Enochson (2013–2015), Mathias Sundin (2015–2018) and Lars Adaktusson (from 2018, with no end date given).[2] As of 13 November 2026 the association's press page named David Lega as förbundsordförande (national chair) and Mats Fält as vice chair;[3] Lega wrote in Aftonbladet on 4 May 2026 as its "nyvald ordförande" (newly elected chair).[4] The "Om oss" page says that Hökmark sits on the EAI honorary board.[1]
Platform
The association's "Om oss" page states that "Israel ville aldrig ha detta krig" (Israel never wanted this war) and that "Israels armé försöker undvika civila offer" (Israel's army tries to avoid civilian casualties).[1]
Contact
- Official website: https://sverigeisrael.se/
- Postal address: Vänskapsförbundet Sverige – Israel, Box 111, 721 05 Västerås
- Telephone: +46 76 686 70 26
- Email: info@sverigeisrael.se (general enquiries); styrelsen@sverigeisrael.se (board); ekonomi@sverigeisrael.se (membership and finance); nyhetsbrev@sverigeisrael.se (newsletter)[5]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Israel, "Om oss", accessed 13 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Israel, "Vänskapsförbundets historia", accessed 13 November 2026.
- ↑ Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Israel, "Press", accessed 13 November 2026.
- ↑ David Lega, "En bred hotbild – men vi tänker inte gömma oss", Aftonbladet, 4 May 2026, accessed 13 November 2026.
- ↑ Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Israel, "Kontakt", accessed 13 November 2026.