Israel regrets Swedish pension funds’ exclusion of Israeli firm linked to West Bank barrier

Israel regrets Swedish funds’ exclusion of firm

STOCKHOLM — Israel says it is “regrettable” that Sweden’s main pension funds dropped an Israeli company from their portfolios because it provides surveillance equipment to the West Bank barrier.

The Swedish AP funds dropped Elbit Systems Ltd. on the recommendation of their ethical council, which noted that Sweden and the European Union consider the barrier a violation of international law.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Shachar Arieli on Thursday said the barrier was built to save lives.

The decision follows a similar move by Norway’s main pension fund last year.

Elbit provides surveillance equipment for the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank.