By Robert R. Singer
This op-ed was originally published in Swedish in Svenska Dagbladet
After the recent attacks targeting the Jewish community in Gothenburg and Malmo, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) expects the Swedish government and authorities to take every measure possible to ensure the safety, security and well-being of its citizens. The time to act is now.
What began as an evening of celebration for Jewish youths in Gothenburg on Saturday quickly deteriorated into terror, as 20 masked men hurled firebombs at the synagogue forcing those trapped inside to hide in the basement in utter uncertainty and fear; two days later, a Jewish chapel in Malmo was also targeted with Molotov cocktails.
How could such horror occur in one of the most advanced democracies and peaceful regions in the world? How is it that only 70 years after the Holocaust, the Jews of Europe are once again fearing for their safety?
The WJC is encouraged by Prime Minister Stefan Lovfen’s strong declaration that “there is no place for anti-Semitism in our Swedish society,” and by the police’s swift action in arresting three suspects following the synagogue attack. But we must recognize that this heinous act was not an isolated incident – Europe is facing a pandemic of anti-Semitism and xenophobia that must be quelled once and for all.
Let’s recall that this is not the first threat facing the Gothenburg community in recent months. On the eve of Yom Kippur, neo-Nazis planned to march near the city’s main synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish year, a rally that was rerouted only after intervention by the local administrative court and significant measures taken by the community, with our assistance, all at the highest levels including a meeting between PM Lofven and WJC President Ronald S. Lauder.
As the CEO of the World Jewish Congress, the international organization representing over 100 Jewish communities worldwide, I visited Sweden last month to address the rising levels of anti-Semitism in the country. I held in-depth discussions with members of the Jewish community in Stockholm and Gothenburg, who made it clear to me that security in the face of rising anti-Semitism was their greatest concern.
This message was delivered to the Swedish government in meetings with Sweden’s Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson, the Minister of Democracy responsible for minorities Alice Bah Kuhnke, the national police commissioner Dan Eliasson, the chief of police for Greater Gothenburg Erik Nord and several Members of Parliament.
There was a clear consensus in all of the meetings that the threat against the Jewish community in Sweden is significant, serious and growing. While the government and the police are indeed taking positive steps to combat anti-Semitism, there is no doubt that much more needs to be done to ensure the safety of the Jewish community.
What I find deeply troubling is the fact that about 25% of the membership fees paid by the members of the Jewish community goes to covering security costs, on top of the thousands of hours each year young members of the community volunteer their time to help with the security needs.
That the Jewish community, a recognized minority in Sweden, must take care of its own security needs in a democratic society is a highly problematic development.
Sweden lags miles behind its neighboring countries in providing government funds for the security of its Jewish community, though it is the largest in Scandinavia; it is also concerning that the Swedish police do not guard synagogues during Jewish holidays, despite requests by the community.
Swedish authorities’ strong condemnation of anti-Semitism must be accompanied by concrete action, including increased security funding for its Jewish communities and enhanced police presence at Jewish sites. And while these steps would be a good start for providing short-term security of the Jewish minority in Sweden, significantly more must be done to ensure its long-term security.
The WJC and its president Ronald Lauder stand ready to assist the Jewish community and the Swedish authorities in combating these threats. As we’ve learned by now, anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish issue. Hatred and xenophobia are not contained; the anti-Semitism of today will inevitably spiral to target other vulnerable minorities, and have a damaging impact on all of society.
Let us hope that these atrocious attacks against the Jewish community will serve as the wake-up call so desperately needed in Sweden, and throughout Europe. Never again has to mean never again.
Robert R. Singer is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President of the World Jewish Congress.
