'I'm not a Nazi,' Jan Helin, the chief editor at the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, wrote in a blog entry on Monday. 'I'm not an anti-Semite. I'm the editor-in-chief who has allowed the publication of a culture article because it asked a number of relevant questions.'
The article set off a media frenzy in Israel, where the article's author has been accused of disseminating 'a blood libel' against the Jews.
An official present at the weekly session of the cabinet said Netanyahu told his ministers he did not expect the Swedish government to apologize for the article in the tabloid but he did expect it to take a stand.
'We're not asking the Swedish government for an apology, we're asking for their condemnation,' the official - speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with Cabinet rules - quoted Netanyahu as saying.
The prime minister added that the story was 'reminiscent of medieval libels that Jews killed Christian children for their blood,' said the official.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has already rejected Israeli calls for an official condemnation.
