Tel Aviv, October 31 (RHC)-- Israel has recalled its ambassador to Stockholm after Sweden's official recognition of the Palestinian state. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it has recalled the regime’s ambassador to Stockholm for consultations with regard to the Scandinavian country’s decision to recognize the state of Palestine.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman lashed out at Sweden for what he called the “miserable decision that strengthens the extremist elements and Palestinian rejectionism." He said it was "a shame that the government of Sweden chose to take a declarative step that only causes harm."

This is while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has praised Sweden for making the “brave and historic” decision. Abbas said: "All countries of the world that are still hesitant to recognize our right to an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, [should] follow Sweden's lead."

Sweden is the first major European country to officially recognize the state of Palestine, joining 130 other nations, including Hungary, Poland and Slovakia that have already made the same decision.

Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip and are demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel, however, has refused to return to the 1967 borders and is unwilling to discuss the issue of Jerusalem.