Israel placed restrictions on Swedish journalists today as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Sweden's government to condemn a newspaper article that claimed Israeli troops killed Palestinians for their organs.
Israel's foreign minister compared it to the Dreyfus Affair - the trial of a Jewish officer in the French army a century ago, which drew attention to anti-Semitism across the continent and inspired Zionists to promote Jewish emigration to Palestine.
Sweden has said press freedom means it cannot intervene in a dispute over the tabloid Aftonbladet's reprinting last Monday of long-standing Palestinian allegations that the Israeli army may have taken organs for transplants from men who died in custody.
"The statements in the Swedish press were outrageous," Mr Netanyahu was quoted telling his cabinet, in his first comment on the issue.
"We are not expecting an apology from the Swedish government...We are expecting condemnation." The official quoting him said the premier, who will be in Europe this week visting London and Berlin, echoed colleagues in comparing the article to medieval "blood libels", which alleged Jews used the blood of Christian babies in religious rites.
The Aftonblad report claimed Israeli soldiers kidnapped Palestinian youths and returned their dismembered bodies a few days later.
The tabloid claimed organs were then sold for transplant.
A spokesman for Israel's Interior Ministry said it was "freezing" the issue of entry visas to Swedish journalists, though those already working in the country would not be affected for now.
The Government Press Office said it would take more time to review applications for accreditation from Swedes. The dispute has soured relations with the country that holds the rotating presidency of the European Union just as Israel is defending its treatment of the Palestinians against criticism in Europe of January's war in Gaza and settlement in the West Bank.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said last week his country opposed anti-Semitism but would not muzzle the media.
Reuters