JERUSALEM, Sept 6 Sweden's foreign minister abruptly called off a visit to Israel this week, an Israeli spokesman said on Sunday, amid a feud over a Swedish newspaper article and a growing gulf between Israel and the international community over West Bank settlement construction.

Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has called off a trip to Israel planned for this Friday, according to Yigal Palmor, spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry. Mr Palmor, who would not comment on a possible reason for the move, said Sweden informed Israel's embassy in Stockholm of the decision on Friday.

The Swedish decision came the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew international condemnation for deciding to approve hundreds of new apartments in West Bank settlements in defiance of US, European and Palestinian calls for a total settlement freeze. Sweden holds the rotating European Union presidency.

But the cancellation also followed a diplomatic feud between Israel and Sweden over an unsubstantiated article in a Swedish tabloid that accused Israeli soldiers of harvesting organs from dead Palestinians and suggested a connection with an international organ trafficking ring run by Jews. Israeli officials condemned the article as anti-Semitic and reminiscent of mediaeval blood libels against Jews.

Swedish officials denied a connection between the cancellation and the article, but offered differing explanations for Mr Bildt's decision.

Anna Brodin, political officer at the Swedish consulate in Jerusalem, said Mr Bildt had put off his visit in the hope Middle East peacemaking would progress during the UN General Assembly later this month.

“It has been delayed until after the General Assembly in New York, when there might be more substance in the process,” Ms Brodin said.

Israel and the Palestinians have indicated that Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas could hold a first meeting during the UN gathering.—AP