(JNS.org) Sweden on Thursday, Oct. 30 officially recognized a Palestinian state, with Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom saying that the “criteria of international law” have been met because there is “a [Palestinian] territory, a people, and government,” the Associated Press reported. New Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven had supported a Palestinian state earlier in October, but Swedish Ambassador to Israel Carl Magnus Nesser at the time attempted to walk back the prime minister’s comments by saying that such recognition would only follow extensive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Sweden’s latest announcement on the issue does not comport with that commitment.