Million Commitment to the Protection of Jews – Swedish Radio

Million Commitment to the Protection of Jews – Swedish Radio

Today, the Government decided to invest two million dollars to increase the safety and protection of the Jewish communities in the country. The support goes to the Jewish Central Council, an association of Swedish Jewish communities.

money is needed, but equally important is that this is a signal that the government takes the plight of Jews in Sweden today seriously thinks Lena Posner-Körösi, president of the Central Jewish Council.

– The symbolic value, to show the support for the Jewish community in the incredibly difficult time we live in, it is worth very, very much, says Lena Posner-Körösi.

Central Jewish Council has previously been awarded four million. The two million now will also be used for investments in fixed assets to protect synagogues and club rooms, and at events.

In a situation where the Jewish group is more exposed than ever needed a financial effort, consider intergrationsminister Erik Ullenhag.

– We have a situation where the Jews says that they may be afraid to wear kippa or go to synagogue. Such Sweden, we should not have said Ullenhag.

Jewish Central Council shall make an inventory of what protection congregations need. Lena Posner-Körösi take as an example that you may need an alarm, insert security doors and entry gates and deploy Pallare to stop cars.

– Exactly, I can not answer in the current situation. But even when I later know I will not be able to tell you exactly what safety we take – just for safety reasons.

This is about sometimes expensive investment. Lena Posner-Körösi still think two million is enough for a lot.

– There’s no limit to how much you can do. But this was actually unexpected and it is two million more than zero.

Erik Ullenhag do not rule out that today’s decision may be controversial, it could exacerbate an already powers tone in the debate.

– I certainly hope not. But what I encounter is that it been a great silence on antisemitism and that is linked to the inflamed situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said.

It’s not Lena Posner-Körösi fear – and the explanation is simple.

– As bad as it is now it is difficult to see how much worse it could be – it is, in fact, she says.

Per Anders Rehn
per-anders.rehn @ sverigesradio.se