YLE describes the Paleostinian areas as ”occupied”, yes, only in the sense that it’s occupied by the Islamonazi mindset.
Foreign Minister Timo Soini, the leader of the populist Finns Party, did not appear at Thursday afternoon’s government press conference as he is on a foreign trip. Standing in for him at the Helsinki announcement of possible tax cuts was Justice and Employment Minister Jari Lindström, who led the party’s parliamentary delegation until taking office a year ago.
Soini left Finland on Wednesday for a three-day visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The first day included meetings at the Knesset or parliament in Jerusalem, as well as a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum.
According to an official handout, Soini is to talk about bilateral relations, the peace process and regional situation in the Middle East and other topical matters with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
On his agenda are meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the Palestinian Authority’s Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.
Contrast to outspoken predecessor
The visit is timed to celebrate 20 years of educational cooperation between Finland and the Palestinian Authority, aimed at boosting access to education in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Soini, who describes himself as a devout Catholic and a friend of Israel – in contrast to his predecessor, Erkki Tuomioja. The long-time Social Democratic minister on several occasions drew Israeli ire over comments such as his 2001 comparison of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to the Nazi treatment of the Jews.