Many politicians criticize Sweden’s problems. Significantly fewer point to powerful foreign interests that they believe influence Swedish politics. In Gävle, AFS leader Gustav Kasselstrand chose to tackle head-on one of the most sensitive issues of the election campaign: Sweden’s relationship with Israel and Zionism.
At the Alternativ för Sverige rally in Gävle on August 22, Gustav Kasselstrand a harsh attack on Israel. The party later published a clip from the speech on X, where it garnered about 97,000 views in two days. Kasselstrand demanded that Sweden stay out of Israel’s war and rejected Swedish arms purchases from that country.
– Under no circumstances will we support Israel’s horrific wars in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran. We will not buy weapons from Israel. We will absolutely not grovel to Israel.
Then came the sharpest part of the speech:
– Israel is a terrorist state.
Tackles a sensitive issue
Kasselstrand directed his criticism at the State of Israel and the political ideology of Zionism, not at Jews as a group. He was particularly harsh in his criticism of Christian Zionism and rejected the idea that the modern State of Israel was created by God’s will.
– Christian Zionism is a heresy. It is heretical.
He then drew a clear distinction between his criticism of Zionism and the Swedish nationalism he himself advocates:
– I say no to Zionist subjugation, no to global Zionism, and yes to Swedish nationalism.
In other words, the other one avoids
The speech is part of AFS’s effort to distinguish itself from the Sweden Democrats, whose leadership has recently placed great emphasis on relations with Israel. Kasselstrand, on the other hand, is making the issue of foreign influence and Swedish interests a central part of the election campaign.
He himself describes this as the party’s distinctive feature:
– This is what makes *Alternativ för Sverige* unique. We bring up issues that no one else talks about. They might be thinking about this, but they’d never dare to say it.
That is also the speech’s clearest political point: Kasselstrand wants to shift the discussion from general criticism of societal developments to the political decisions and interests he believes lie behind them—even when the topic is politically sensitive.
Really great work by Gustav
I actually think we shouldn't get involved in the Middle East issue at all.
Not even with tongs.
They've been doing the same thing for 2,000 years now and will continue to do so for another 2,000 years.
It seems to be their main hobby or leisure activity.
But we will have NOTHING to do with that at all.
You’re certainly right in principle, but the Hebrews’ never-ending war with their neighbors down in the sandbox affects us whether we like it or not, and in that case, it’s good to highlight the party’s position.
It's like two Romani families moving into the house next door. Sure, you could just ignore it, thinking, ”I don't give a damn what they do,” but you'll still feel the effects of their activities…
Kasselstrand is absolutely right—we should have no ties with the terrorist state of Israhell.
NMR was way ahead, but Kasselstrand also did a good job of highlighting the problem.