A diplomatic spat between Sweden and Israel bubbled to the surface overnight in the aftermath of reports outlining how Sweden sought to block European Union sanctions on Iran in order to protect a business deal between Tehran and the Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt took to Twitter last week to criticize Israel, ostensibly channeling the concern of “EU FM’s.” The Swedish government has recently helped fund books accusing Israel of among other things being an apartheid state where “Hebrew has a special status, with no consideration” for Arabic, which the book describes “the area’s original language.” Arabic is one of Israel’s official languages and the Israeli government is obligated by law to provide services in both Hebrew and Arabic.

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