Sweden's recognition of the Palestine statehood came Thursday, prompting an immediate condemnation from Israel and the withdrawal of its ambassador in Stockholm.

The Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom announced the move, saying Palestine qualifies as a state on the basis of it having "a territory, a people and a government."

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The foreign ministry expressed hope that Israel would continue to maintain its "excellent cooperation" with Sweden and that the decision would be taken in a positive, constructive manner, the Associated Press quoted her as saying.

The Palestinian government welcomed the official recognition, which came in the wake of growing frustration and anti-Semitic sentiments in Europe and the United States over the settlement policies the Israeli government pursues in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Shortly after the announcement, Israel pulled out its ambassador to Sweden, saying it is an expression of how upset the Jewish nation is about the decision, Foreign Ministry's deputy spokesman Paul Hirschson told The New York Times.

Israel is worried that Sweden's formal recognition of the State of Palestine would stir a series of the same recognition from among other European countries.

Already, France has signaled its plan of issuing its formal recognition of the Palestinian Statehood this month - a trend Israel fears would send across the message that Palestine could achieve its claims of a sovereign state outside formal negotiations.

Hirschson took a swipe at the Swedish government, saying it must understand how complex the regional relations in the Middle East are and must not insist its Ikea perspective, under which all things come in neat, flat packages.

He added that Sweden would do well if it would act with greater sense of responsibility and sensitivity.

When he took office earlier this month, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven vowed to recognize the statehood of Palestine, explaining that it was the only way Israel and its neighbor would find a peaceful resolution to the region's protracted violent conflicts.

TagsSweden, State of Palestine, Israel, Stefan Lofven, Israel-Palestine, Israel-Sweden, Palestine statehood