There is no crack at all, says Maria Malmer Stenergard when she speaks to the media after the meeting.
She says that there is very strong support for the government's stance in the Foreign Affairs Committee to freeze the EU's trade agreement with Israel.
We need to put more pressure on the Israeli government, but we also need to put more pressure on Hamas, she says.
If the agreement is paused, it would mean that Israel would no longer be covered by customs benefits. Such a decision must be made by a qualified majority in the EU circle.
At today's committee meeting, the SD's Aron Emilsson insists that it is a bad idea.
My assessment is that it damages our opportunity for political, economic and diplomatic influence with Israel.
”Can only regret”
The government has changed its position and announced at the end of July that it demands that the EU freeze the trade agreement to increase pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The decision was criticized by representatives of the Christian Democrats and the Sweden Democrats.
KD leader Ebba Busch said that the government's stance may be reconsidered, and that it was too much of a "one-sided focus" on Israel.
The opposition viewed the split seriously and requested that a special meeting be held in the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Malmer Stenergard rejects that the government was ever in disagreement.
From the day I presented this message, the government has been in agreement. Since then, I perceive that there are those who want to paint a different picture, including Morgan Johansson. It's not about caring for Gaza's children, but just about trying to make domestic politics out of an incredibly important issue, and that I can only regret, she says.
Important for KD
Prior to the meeting, the government presented a memo on the line that applies. It appears that the government believes that the way the war in Gaza is now being waged is "unacceptable" and that "the economic pressure on Israel must increase".
But it also states that they want criteria to be developed for when the trade agreement can come into effect again, which is in line with Ebba Busch's statements.
It was important for us, otherwise you can't use the agreement as a means of pressure, says KD's member Magnus Berntsson after the meeting.
