Finland's government survives no-confidence vote over defense minister's Israel visit

On Friday, Finland's government survived a parliamentary vote of confidence called by the Social Democratic Party over its Middle East policy, following Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen's September visit to Israel. The government won by 93 to 62 votes, while Hakkanen won his own confidence vote by 114 to 61. The opposition criticized Hakkanen for not meeting Palestinian representatives and for not addressing Israel's violations of international law. Hakkanen defended the visit as necessary for Finland's security, but canceled his participation in a defense ministers' meeting in Iceland due to the vote.