Sunday, May 17, 2009
Muslims invade Sweden and Jew-hatred rises
Jews Leaving Malmo, Sweden
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
20 Iyar 5769 - May 14, 2009
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/amalmobhr69.htm
Jewish out-migration is on the rise in Malmo, Sweden's third largest city. One-third of the southern port city are Muslims, forming a population group that has created a considerable challenge due to their reluctance to integrate and adopt local norms. In Stockholm, Sweden's largest city, the population is 20% Muslim.
In recent years Malmo has become a symbol of intolerance toward Jews. The situation worsened significantly following the recent war in Gaza and continued to deteriorate following the protests against allowing Israeli tennis players to participate in Davis Cup matches held in the city.
In recent interviews, young members of the local Jewish community, which currently numbers 900, said Jewish residents feel they would be better off leaving the city than being subject to harassment and threats by Muslims.
"We're leaving," one young Jew declared during an interview on a news program at a local radio station. "It's not a question of if but when, and maybe not just Malmo, but Sweden, too."
The Jewish community is not only disappointed by its treatment by the Muslim neighbors. That would have been bearable, they said, since they expect the situation to improve in the future. Rather they are more disappointed by city leaders, who are largely dependent on the Muslim vote.
It was the mayor of this traditionally working-class city, socialist Ilmar Reepalu, who justified the criticism of Israel during the recent Davis Cup protests, saying the city must display solidarity toward Palestinian residents whose relatives were affected by the war. Yet the protesters in Malmo demonstrated not only against Israel, but against the Jews as well. The Judisk Kronika ("Jewish Chronicle") recently published a transcript from one of the demonstrations where calls to wipe out the Jews were clearly audible. "It's unfortunate such shouts are heard, but they are not from Palestinians, but from members of neo-Nazi organizations," said Mayor Reepalu, choosing to totally overlook the city's Jewish-Muslim tensions.
The Muslim population is a source of problems elsewhere in Sweden, whose non-Muslim citizens are also largely unfriendly towards Israel and Swedish Jews. Growing public support for the Social Democratic Party (SAP), which is highly critical of Israel, has boosted Party Chairman Mona Sahlin, known for her extreme views against Israel.
"I don't want to be among those who didn't leave the city on time," another young Jew said during the radio program. "The situation in Malmo today might not be quite the same as what was happening in Germany during the 1930s. There, too, many people fled the rising wave of hatred, but many other stayed and were washed away. I don't want to be one of them," he said cryptically.
Not all Scandinavian Muslims are hostile toward Jews and not all of the Jews are packing their bags to leave. Just 40 miles away in Copenhagen the atmosphere is totally different. But the sense of fear and uncertainty palpable in Malmo is liable to reach epidemic proportions if left unchecked, and today Sweden has no leader brave enough to step forward and take a firm stand.
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
20 Iyar 5769 - May 14, 2009
http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/amalmobhr69.htm
Jewish out-migration is on the rise in Malmo, Sweden's third largest city. One-third of the southern port city are Muslims, forming a population group that has created a considerable challenge due to their reluctance to integrate and adopt local norms. In Stockholm, Sweden's largest city, the population is 20% Muslim.
In recent years Malmo has become a symbol of intolerance toward Jews. The situation worsened significantly following the recent war in Gaza and continued to deteriorate following the protests against allowing Israeli tennis players to participate in Davis Cup matches held in the city.
In recent interviews, young members of the local Jewish community, which currently numbers 900, said Jewish residents feel they would be better off leaving the city than being subject to harassment and threats by Muslims.
"We're leaving," one young Jew declared during an interview on a news program at a local radio station. "It's not a question of if but when, and maybe not just Malmo, but Sweden, too."
The Jewish community is not only disappointed by its treatment by the Muslim neighbors. That would have been bearable, they said, since they expect the situation to improve in the future. Rather they are more disappointed by city leaders, who are largely dependent on the Muslim vote.
It was the mayor of this traditionally working-class city, socialist Ilmar Reepalu, who justified the criticism of Israel during the recent Davis Cup protests, saying the city must display solidarity toward Palestinian residents whose relatives were affected by the war. Yet the protesters in Malmo demonstrated not only against Israel, but against the Jews as well. The Judisk Kronika ("Jewish Chronicle") recently published a transcript from one of the demonstrations where calls to wipe out the Jews were clearly audible. "It's unfortunate such shouts are heard, but they are not from Palestinians, but from members of neo-Nazi organizations," said Mayor Reepalu, choosing to totally overlook the city's Jewish-Muslim tensions.
The Muslim population is a source of problems elsewhere in Sweden, whose non-Muslim citizens are also largely unfriendly towards Israel and Swedish Jews. Growing public support for the Social Democratic Party (SAP), which is highly critical of Israel, has boosted Party Chairman Mona Sahlin, known for her extreme views against Israel.
"I don't want to be among those who didn't leave the city on time," another young Jew said during the radio program. "The situation in Malmo today might not be quite the same as what was happening in Germany during the 1930s. There, too, many people fled the rising wave of hatred, but many other stayed and were washed away. I don't want to be one of them," he said cryptically.
Not all Scandinavian Muslims are hostile toward Jews and not all of the Jews are packing their bags to leave. Just 40 miles away in Copenhagen the atmosphere is totally different. But the sense of fear and uncertainty palpable in Malmo is liable to reach epidemic proportions if left unchecked, and today Sweden has no leader brave enough to step forward and take a firm stand.
Labels: Antisemitism in Sweden, Europe, European Anti-Semitism, Islamic antisemitism, Muslims, Palestinian antisemitism, Sweden, Swedish antisemitism, Swedish society
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Anti-Semitism in Europe persists
ADL poll: Classic anti-Semitic attitudes in Europe persist
By Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies , By Amiram Barkat
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/883342.html
Thu., July 19, 2007 Av 4, 5767
Fifty percent of Europeans in six countries believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country; 34.5 percent agree that Jews have too much financial and business clout; and 43 percent said Jews talk too much about the Holocaust, according to a poll released yesterday by the Anti-Defamation League.
The survey of respondents in Austria, Belgium, Britain, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland showed a rise in anti-Semitic attitudes, but also a rise in positive views of Israel, in contrast to the Palestinians, since a similar poll was conducted in 2005.
ADL National Director Abraham Foxman called the questioning of Jewish loyalty the most distressing, disturbing, and frightening issue, as it was liable to fuel anti-Semitic incidents.
"Millions of Europeans continue to accept a wide range of traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories, including the charge that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country," Foxman said at a news conference in Jerusalem. "Despite the fact that individual governments and the EU have condemned anti-Semitism and sought ways to counteract it, these attitudes die hard and help incite and legitimize anti-Semitic acts, including violence against Jews."
According to the survey, an overall 49.7 percent of respondents said it was probably true that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home countries, compared with 38.2 percent in 2005. A breakdown of the results showed that view was most widely held in Austria and Belgium, where 54 percent of those polled agreed, compared to Switzerland, with 44 percent.
Other questions showed wider differences between countries. The research showed that anti-Semitic attitudes were particularly marked in Hungary, where 61 percent of respondents said that it was probably true that Jews have too much power in international financial markets, up from 55 percent in 2005, and that 60 percent believed that Jews have too much power in the business world. Only 11 percent in the Netherlands held the same view.
An average of 34.5 percent across the six countries agreed that Jews have too much financial and business clout, compared with 26.7 percent two years ago.
Asked about recent initiatives to boycott Israel by academic and journalists' unions in Britain, 43 percent of U.K. respondents said they opposed such attempts, while 37 percent favored them.
In Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, respondents said they viewed Israel more favorably than in 2005. The favorable rating for Israel dropped, meanwhile, in Austria and Hungary.
Foxman said he was "especially concerned that the survey found a large percentage of all respondents, and a majority in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland, believe that American Jews control U.S. policy on the Middle East, an old canard that has been resurrected in mainstream America and bolsters existing European attitudes."
The survey conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres between May 29 and Jun 18 interviewed 500 adults in each of the six countries, and had a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
By Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies , By Amiram Barkat
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/883342.html
Thu., July 19, 2007 Av 4, 5767
Fifty percent of Europeans in six countries believe that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country; 34.5 percent agree that Jews have too much financial and business clout; and 43 percent said Jews talk too much about the Holocaust, according to a poll released yesterday by the Anti-Defamation League.
The survey of respondents in Austria, Belgium, Britain, Hungary, the Netherlands and Switzerland showed a rise in anti-Semitic attitudes, but also a rise in positive views of Israel, in contrast to the Palestinians, since a similar poll was conducted in 2005.
ADL National Director Abraham Foxman called the questioning of Jewish loyalty the most distressing, disturbing, and frightening issue, as it was liable to fuel anti-Semitic incidents.
"Millions of Europeans continue to accept a wide range of traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories, including the charge that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home country," Foxman said at a news conference in Jerusalem. "Despite the fact that individual governments and the EU have condemned anti-Semitism and sought ways to counteract it, these attitudes die hard and help incite and legitimize anti-Semitic acts, including violence against Jews."
According to the survey, an overall 49.7 percent of respondents said it was probably true that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their home countries, compared with 38.2 percent in 2005. A breakdown of the results showed that view was most widely held in Austria and Belgium, where 54 percent of those polled agreed, compared to Switzerland, with 44 percent.
Other questions showed wider differences between countries. The research showed that anti-Semitic attitudes were particularly marked in Hungary, where 61 percent of respondents said that it was probably true that Jews have too much power in international financial markets, up from 55 percent in 2005, and that 60 percent believed that Jews have too much power in the business world. Only 11 percent in the Netherlands held the same view.
An average of 34.5 percent across the six countries agreed that Jews have too much financial and business clout, compared with 26.7 percent two years ago.
Asked about recent initiatives to boycott Israel by academic and journalists' unions in Britain, 43 percent of U.K. respondents said they opposed such attempts, while 37 percent favored them.
In Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, respondents said they viewed Israel more favorably than in 2005. The favorable rating for Israel dropped, meanwhile, in Austria and Hungary.
Foxman said he was "especially concerned that the survey found a large percentage of all respondents, and a majority in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland, believe that American Jews control U.S. policy on the Middle East, an old canard that has been resurrected in mainstream America and bolsters existing European attitudes."
The survey conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres between May 29 and Jun 18 interviewed 500 adults in each of the six countries, and had a margin of error of 4.5 percentage points.
Labels: Europe, European Anti-Semitism, Jews
