Aid to Palestine and UNRWA

The plan requires that Sweden increases aid, strengthens the UN and works for solidarity-based aid and fair trade terms, and that Sweden is a steady voice for human rights. A particular Palestinian strategy that prioritizes reconstruction, democratic institutions and civil society is an application of this. Palestine is not mentioned in the documents, so the position is derived.

• increased aid and strengthened UNdecisive»Sverige ska öka biståndet, stärka FN och skriva under kärnvapenkonventionen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall increase aid, strengthen the UN and sign the nuclear weapons convention.”
• solidarity-based aid»solidariskt bistånd och rättvisa handelsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“solidarity-based aid and fair trade terms.”
• voice for human rights»en stadig röst i världen som talar för mänskliga rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“a steady voice in the world that speaks for human rights”
• strengthened UN role»Vi vill därför att Sverige verkar för att FN ska spela en större roll« (party programme ↗)“We therefore want Sweden to work for the UN to play a greater role”

Worldstate weighed in: Reduced global aid — sharpens the plan's requirement for increased and solidarity-based aid to prioritize the most vulnerable areas

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The party programme commits the party to aid of at least one percent of GNI and to development cooperation that supports the growth of democratic institutions and a strong civil society, while the election manifesto wants aid to more clearly counteract the causes of flight. A special Palestine strategy that prioritizes reconstruction and institution- and civil-society-building is in line with these commitments. However, no country strategy is specified in the plan.

• support for democratic institutionsdecisive»Utvecklingssamarbetet ska bygga på utvecklingsländernas egna resurser och stödja« (party programme ↗)“Development cooperation shall be based on the developing countries' own resources and support”
• the one-percent target»Det svenska biståndet ska motsvara minst en procent av bruttonationalinkomsten.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish aid shall correspond to at least one percent of gross national income.”
• aid against causes of flight»Svenskt bistånd ska tydligare bidra till att förhindra att människor tvingas på flykt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish aid shall more clearly contribute to preventing people from being forced to flee.”
• international law and solidarity»Vi har en lång historia av att stå upp för folkrätten, solidaritet, nedrustning, demokrati och jämställdhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We have a long history of standing up for international law, solidarity, disarmament, democracy and gender equality.”

The election manifesto states that aid should be guided by effectiveness and poverty reduction and not conditioned on Swedish domestic political interests, and that development cooperation should build peace and democratic societies. The party programme wants organizations for democracy and human rights to receive support. A special Palestine strategy that prioritizes reconstruction and institution-building follows from these commitments.

• aid according to need, not domestic politicsdecisive»att mer än 1 procent av Sveriges bruttonationalinkomst fortsatt ska gå till bistånd, att biståndet ska styras av principer om effektivitet och fattigdomsbekämpning och inte villkoras mot Sveriges inrikespolitiska intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that more than 1 per cent of Sweden's gross national income should continue to go to aid, that aid should be guided by principles of effectiveness and poverty reduction and not conditioned on Swedish domestic political interests.”
• aid for peace and democracy building»att utvecklingssamarbetet ska bidra till att bekämpa fattigdom, förebygga och hantera klimatförändringarna, bevara och skapa fred, förebygga konflikter, bygga upp demokratiska samhällen och motverka korruption.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that development cooperation should contribute to combating poverty, preventing and managing climate change, preserving and creating peace, preventing conflicts, building democratic societies and combating corruption.”
• support to civil society»Organisationer som arbetar för demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter, jämställdhet och hållbar utveckling bör ges stöd genom svenskt utvecklingssamarbete.« (party programme ↗)“Organizations working for democracy, human rights, gender equality and sustainable development should be supported through Swedish development cooperation.”
• responsiveness to recipient's needs»utvecklingssamarbete och skuldavskrivningar ska präglas av respekt och lyhördhet för mottagarländernas behov« (party programme ↗)“development cooperation and debt relief should be characterized by respect and responsiveness to recipient countries' needs”

Worldstate weighed in: Parliamentary questions about Israel's recent actions in Gaza — actualizes a reconstruction need that the documents did not anticipate and strengthens the reasons for a dedicated strategy

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan says nothing about aid's geographic priorities or about Palestine. The nearest principle is the party programme's view that aid and cooperation can bring countries closer together so that conflicts are avoided and the rights of oppressed people are defended, and that rich countries must contribute to developing countries' development. On the basis of that principle, the plan speaks for a dedicated strategy that builds democratic institutions and civil society.

• aid prevents conflictsdecisive»Samarbetsorganisationer som FN och EU, handelsavtal och bistånd, kan knyta länder närmare varandra« (party programme ↗)“Cooperative organisations such as the UN and the EU, trade agreements and aid can bring countries closer together.”
• global responsibility for peace»Fred, skyddet av mänskliga rättigheter och hållbar utveckling är hela världens ansvar.« (party programme ↗)“Peace, protection of human rights and sustainable development are the responsibility of the whole world.”
• rich countries contribute to development»Världens rika länder måste bidra till att utvecklingsländer snabbare kan nå en hållbar utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“The world's rich countries must contribute to developing countries faster achieving sustainable development.”
• peace initiatives and dialogue»Dagens internationella ekonomiska beroende ökar betydelsen av fredsinsatser, samarbete och dialog.« (party programme ↗)“Today's international economic interdependence increases the importance of peace initiatives, cooperation and dialogue.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan does not mention Palestine, but establishes that democracy shall be development aid's overarching goal and that aid to democratizing forces, institution-building and civil society shall be prioritized – precisely the purposes the counter-proposal's strategy points to. Based on the nearest principle it is supported. The plan simultaneously requires reforms against corruption and lack of openness in aid, which is a reservation.

• democracy as aid goaldecisive»Demokrati ska vara det övergripande målet för utvecklingsbiståndet.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy shall be the overarching goal for development aid.”
• institution-building is prioritized»demokratiserande krafter, institutionsbyggande, korruptionsbekämpning och rättsstatliga« (party programme ↗)“democratizing forces, institution-building, anti-corruption and rule-of-law”
• the one per cent goal for aid»Därför vill vi att det svenska biståndet ska uppnå till en procent av BNI.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we want Swedish aid to reach one per cent of GNI.”
• reformed aid»Den svenska biståndspolitiken måste genomgå stora reformer med fokus på demokrati, jämställdhet och minskad korruption.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish aid policy must undergo major reforms with focus on democracy, gender equality and reduced corruption.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan states that those affected and most vulnerable in conflicts have the right to help and protection, that development cooperation can contribute to peaceful development, and that conflict-prevention aid and efforts for reconciliation and stability in post-conflict areas are important. It also requires clear instruments for steering and coordination of aid. A special Palestine strategy for reconstruction and institution-building follows from these commitments.

• vulnerable in conflicts have right to protectiondecisive»att flyktingar, de drabbade och mest utsatta i konflikter,« (party programme ↗)“that refugees, those affected and most vulnerable in conflicts,”
• aid for reconciliation and stability»Det konfliktförebyggande biståndet är viktigt, liksom insatser för försoning« (party programme ↗)“Conflict-prevention aid is important, as are efforts for reconciliation”
• aid promotes peaceful development»Utvecklingssamarbete kan bidra till fredlig utveckling« (party programme ↗)“Development cooperation can contribute to peaceful development”
• clear steering of aid»Det måste finnas tydliga instrument för styrning,« (party programme ↗)“There must be clear instruments for steering,”

Worldstate weighed in: Reduced global aid is highlighted in the Riksdag — sharpens the plan's requirements for clear prioritization and steering of remaining aid funds

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan wants to narrow aid and focus it to the countries and operations where Sweden does the most good, with a larger share of humanitarian support and without uncritically channeling increasing volumes through unreformed UN bodies. A special Palestine strategy that makes the region prioritized and builds up institutions goes in the opposite direction from that focus. The plan also requires a reformed UN.

• focused aiddecisive»Fokusera det svenska biståndet till de länder, organisationer och tematiska områden där det gör störst nytta« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Focus Swedish aid to the countries, organizations and thematic areas where it does the most good”
• critical approach to UN channels»Dina skattepengar ska inte försvinna i korruption eller hamna i fickorna på odemokratiska ledare, och inte heller okritiskt kanaliseras i ökande volymer genom oreformerade FN-organ som brister i transparens och uppföljning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Your tax money should not disappear into corruption or end up in the pockets of undemocratic leaders, and nor should it be uncritically channeled in increasing volumes through unreformed UN bodies that lack transparency and accountability.”
• humanitarian before institution-building»Öka andelen humanitärt bistånd i den svenska biståndsbudgeten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the share of humanitarian aid in the Swedish aid budget”
• reformed UN»Verka för ett reformerat FN« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a reformed UN”

The election manifesto commits to significantly reducing international aid in favour of Swedish welfare and security and to focusing aid on humanitarian disaster relief. Making Palestine a priority aid area with a special strategy for institutional and civil society development goes beyond that direction. The plan furthermore requires that bilateral aid be conditional and that no aid go to Islamist organisations or regimes.

• reduced aiddecisive»Minska svenskt bistånd till förmån för svensk välfärd och trygghet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce Swedish aid in favour of Swedish welfare and security”
• focus on disaster relief»Fokusera biståndet till humanitärt katastrofbistånd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Focus aid on humanitarian disaster relief”
• no aid to Islamists»Stoppa allt bistånd till islamistiska organisationer eller regimer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop all aid to Islamist organisations or regimes”
• conditional aid»Som regel villkora bilateralt bistånd med avtal om mottagandesamverkan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“As a rule make bilateral aid conditional on agreements on recipient cooperation”