New York, N.Y. . . . Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations today expressed alarm over recent anti-Semitic attacks and demonstrations in the Swedish cities of Gothenburg and Malmo following the announcement of U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A synagogue in Gothenburg and a Jewish cemetery in Malmo were firebombed, and protesters in Malmo chanted threats of violence against Jews. Sweden’s Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, forcefully condemned the anti-Semitic attacks, and law enforcement officials announced the arrest of suspects in the firebombing of the Gothenburg synagogue.
Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of the Conference of Presidents, said, “The most recent anti-Semitic incidents in Sweden and elsewhere in Europe, are an unwelcome reminder that events involving Israel and the Palestinians are all too often exploited to provoke violence and incitement against Jews and Jewish institutions around the world.
It is critically important for political, religious and communal leaders to maintain constant vigilance against the outrageous impulse of some to strike out against Jewish communities to protest policies of the government of Israel.
We commend Prime Minister Löfven for his strong message to the people of Sweden when he said ‘There is no place for anti-Semitism in Swedish society” and for his swift condemnation of the attacks on Jewish religious sites and calls for incitement to violence against Jews.
We hope there will also be a sustained effort to stop the incitement and hold to account those responsible.”
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