- Sweden edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Germany |
- Norway |
- Spain |
- Switzerland
Reepalu 'pleased' with Obama envoy talks
Published: 25 Apr 12 16:32 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40480/20120425/
Controversial Malmö mayor Ilmar Reepalu said he was ”pleased” with the meeting with US president Barack Obama’s expert on anti-Semitism, Hannah Rosenthal which took place during her visit to the city on Wednesday.
- Obama's anti-Semitism expert to meet Reepalu (10 Apr 12)
- Ilmar Reepalu: 'the Swedish Ken Livingstone' (4 Apr 12)
- Malmö mayor's remarks 'wrong': party head (2 Apr 12)
“I think that we had a good conversation,” he said to local paper Sydsvenskan.
According to Reepalu, Rosenthal is very concerned about the increase in hate crimes that is happening not only in Sweden, but in the rest of Europe.
“She was very clear and said that anti-Semitism isn’t worse than any other racism,” Reepalu told the paper.
According to Reepalu, Rosenthal stressed the difference between anti-Semitism and a warranted criticism of the state of Israel.
“On the other hand it is important not to put the blame on Jews in Malmö or any other place for injustices committed by Israel, “ he told the paper.
Mayor Reepalu has been likened by some observers to British ex-mayor Ken Livingstone for his habit to put his foot in his mouth.
His recent statements in right-leaning magazine NEO that the Jewish community in Malmö had been infiltrated by the Sweden Democrats ruffled a lot of feathers in Sweden and abroad. According to Reepalu, Rosenthal mentioned his gaffe in their conversation.
“It came up and she said that it is very important to watch one’s words and be careful of anything that can be interpreted as anti-Semitic,” Reepalu told Sydsvenskan.
Reepalu nevertheless claimed that comments of his which cause a stir usually do so because of misrepresentation or misinterpretation. But he admitted to the paper that his choice of words has sometimes been rather unfortunate.
Rosenthal’s interest in Reepalu and his public statements, as the top local politician in the area, was also based on a misunderstanding, according to Reepalu.
“She believed that I was the highest authority for the Malmö police force, and that it is my fault that the police aren’t investigating hate crimes or allocating resources to protect the synagogue. And it was very good that we cleared that up,” he said.
The Local/rm
twitter.com/thelocalsweden
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Seven arrested over Stockholm's Husby riots
Seven people were arrested on Tuesday following the Husby riots in northern Stockholm, with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt warning that the unrest may continue. READ () »
'The future of freedom on the internet is at stake'
Internet policy experts gather in Stockholm this week to grapple with online data protection and surveillance issues that everyone who surfs the web should care about, reports technologist Stefan Geens. READ () »
'Swedishness must be split from being white'
Sweden needs a new story better equipped to deal with and include today's demographic diversity and create a new Swedishness that is separate from whiteness, write representatives from the Multicultural Centre in Botkyrka near Stockholm. READ () »
Body parts found in missing woman search
Human remains were found in a military building in northern Sweden on Monday night during the search for a 20-year-old woman who has been missing for two weeks. READ () »
The 'absolute truth' about tacos in Stockholm
Unable to find good Mexican food after moving to Stockholm to study in 2008, Monterrey native David Licona now finds himself running La Neta, one of the most popular Mexican eateries in the Swedish capital. The Local finds out more. READ () »
Defamation charges for Instagram 'slut-shaming'
Two Swedish teenage girls were officially charged with defamation on Tuesday for their involvement in the "slut-shaming" Instagram account that saw enraged teens in Gothenburg lay siege to two high schools last year. READ () »
Topless woman to be lifted from Swedish map
After a caricature of a topless woman on a tourist map in western Sweden left some residents seething, a local official has promised to have the offending image removed. READ () »
Former Saab CEO arrested for tax crimes
Jan Åke Jonsson, the former CEO of Saab Automobile, and two top-level colleagues have been detained by police on suspicion of tax crimes. READ () »
- 21/05 Seven arrested over Stockholm's Husby riots »
- 21/05 Body parts found in missing woman search »
- 21/05 Defamation charges for Instagram 'slut-shaming' »
- 21/05 Former Saab CEO arrested for tax crimes »
- 21/05 Fresh clashes as more cars burn in Husby »
- 20/05 Riot police 'resorted to racial slurs' in Husby »
- 20/05 Man gets payout for not shaking woman's hand »
- 20/05 Pirate Swede in 'biggest ever' hacking trial »
- 20/05 Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots »
- 19/05 Man held over armed jewellery store robbery »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
- 21/05 Far right figure kills himself at Notre Dame »
- 21/05 French ministers face grilling over tax scandal »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
In cooperation with DoToday
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
- Är du vår kunds nästa tekniska
- Medical Writer at AstraZeneca
- Senior Project manager to the Project
- Senior Technical Leader Driving Dynamics
- .Net Software Architects
- Application consultant
- Business Analyst or Requirement Specialist
- IT BUSINESS PROJECT MANAGER
- Java Software Architect
- Purchasing Controller
"A week full to the brim with LFC football…. Div 5 LFC match against Nåjdens FK has been moved. This is due to the Svenska Cupen final: 26 May, 17.00 kick off, Nationalarenan Friends Arena, Solna. Next match is on Tuesday (see below). ………………………………………………………… Friday: Div5 Ladies: Rotebro IS FF – Långholmen FC (Skinnaråsens IP) KO: 16.15 ………………………………………………………… Saturday: Vets: Långholmen FC – IFK..." READ »
- 20/5 15:25 Hockey. Hockey. Hockey. (Boston Blatte)
- 16/5 08:32 Be British, be sincere and be bold (Brits Mean Business)
- 19/4 15:47 UK and Sweden sign Defence MOU (The Diplomatic Dispatch)
- Är du vår kunds nästa tekniska
- Medical Writer at AstraZeneca
- Senior Project manager to the Project
- Senior Technical Leader Driving Dynamics
- .Net Software Architects
- Application consultant
- Business Analyst or Requirement Specialist
- IT BUSINESS PROJECT MANAGER
- Java Software Architect
- Purchasing Controller
- 23:36 Husby Riots and violence against the police...
- 22:21 Salary expectations for managing a busy bar?
- 22:18 90% of male population gay?
- 21:55 My scary encounter with Swedbank.
- 21:34 Job prospects for British GP/family doctor
- 21:15 Can you recommend an excellent immigration lawyer?
- 21:05 Living in the UK doing online work in Sweden
- 20:28 Getting a mortgage if my wage is paid overseas?
- 19:41 English people living in helsingborg
- 17:21 Found out I'm pregnant!
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
"The problem of anti-Semitism in Sweden is so widespread that the Simon Wiesenthal Center has advised Jews to avoid travelling to the country altogether: " There have been dozens of incidents reported to the authorities but have not resulted in arrests or convictions for hate crimes."
It should be also taken into account that there are a lot of other types of crimes Swedish police don't respond to or police at a level as one might be familiar with in other Western countries, such as rape and would and gang violence.
The budgets for police work are relatively low, the sentences relatively short, and the Swedish police for is for the most part are racially white so it has a hard time gathering intelligence on immigrant gang activity. In other words, Swedish police have challenges in fighting what most of its citizens would judge as being real crime.
On the other-hand, its very easy for police officers to sit in a bush next to the highway and hand out speeding tickets to the middle-class which in a day's work can net 20,000 SEK or so per police officer.
The police in Sweden are victims of being managed by a budget like anyone else hence, they often pick the enforcement of laws based upon the cost of the enforcement balanced against the cost to society for not enforcing those laws.
I know several Jewish families here in Malmö and because there are so few here I will not comment on what they tell me as I would not want to put them in harms way anymore than they already are.... but I can say that all the one's I know are law abiding citizens that deserve the same protections under the law everyone else receives.
"On the other hand it is important not to put the blame on Jews in Malmö or any other place for injustices committed by Israel, " he told the paper.
SOMEHOW he manages not to be misrepresenting and put the blame on muslims for the injustices of ALL the islamic dictatorships in the world.
Somehow and strangely coincidentally, the behavior of Sudanese, Somalian, Irani, Turkish, Iraqi, Syrian, Saudi, Egyptian and Yemenese governments do not cause "unfortunately misinterpreted" combinations of words out of the mouth of this nazi sob.
Somehow, other city mayors manage NOT to be visited by Obamas envoys.
Somehow, attacks on Jews everywhere else are condemned on the spot except the islamic countries, while this grandson of a fuhrer looks for "reasonable explanations" for this behavior and somehow no other swedish city experience mass expulsion of a NATION in Sweden of 21st century(!!!)...
How unfortunate!
He's a perfect fit for Malmo.
"Saudis continue "reaching out" to Jews and Christians, while simultaneously teaching their children to hate those same Jews and Christians"
"Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Holds Venomous Anti-Israel Rally, Vows to 'One Day Kill All Jews'"
"Muslims teach their children to hate jews"
Hamas charter,
"The prophet, prayer and peace be upon him, said: The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews (and kill them); until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim! there is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him!
This will not apply to Gharqad, which is a Jewish tree (cited by Bukhari and Muslim).
Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt."
The Quran clearly states that if you kill an innocents you be in hell. So if any Muslims no matter when or what time would kill an innocent, does not matter if he is behind the stone or tree , super market or bus. For sure he be in hell.
"... Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just. Be just. That is closer to taqwa"" (Surat al-Ma'ida, 8)
"If any of the idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection until they have heard the words of Allah. Then convey them to a place where they are safe...." (Surat at-Tawba, 6)
I, myself might be from a Jewish tribe, and I would love to see all Jews in love and peace living in the Israel and I would love to see them also stop killing innocents and bombing them the children and when someone speaks against the Israeli terrorist action, then the Jews call the person " antisemitic" it should be stopped. (the term anti Semitic)
Leftists hate them because they supposedly own all of the banks and run the world. Muslims hate them because the ones supposedly occupying Israel won't crawl into the sea and die. Europeans hate them because the orthodox ones reject secular humanism and relativism for religious faith, and worse, prosper out of proportion to their numbers. Only Americans like them because Americans like religious, successful people whose stubborn will to survive overcomes all odds.
The Americans.
Leftists hate them because they supposedly own all of the corporations of the world ...
To summarize all the arguments without being coherent, since they have been give 100 times:
Muslims joined the nazis in the WWII before Israel even existed.
Jews killed not even 1% of what muslims managed to murder since the WWII in Middle East and Africa. (Only Assad killed more people in 3 months, than palestinians killed in both intifadas in 10 YEARS)
If Swedish Jews are answerable for policies of Israel, how come ANY muslim still allowed to walk the streets, since 100% of your countries are involved in constant oppression, murder, torture and war.
If you connect EVERY Jew and his problems with anti-semitism to Israel, then it is obvious that the attacks on Jews are racial and therefore muslims perform the same action in violence and word as the nazis did. Therefore you have got yourself an excellent proof of pure nazism.
Your "I wish them Jews lived in peace bla bla bla" does not hide your nazi nature.
Jews complain about PHYSICAL and VERBAL attacks on them on the streets of Malmö by MUSLIMS. Constant attacks. On the street nobody speaks of Israel. People scream "Heil Hitlrer" and "Go back to the chambers". Your comrades beat up Holocaust survivors, who never has been is Israel. Here is another reason for you to be embarrassed by the pile of ... that your countries provide as immigration to Sweden, instead of protecting the fascist buddies..
"anti-Semitic term" is tool which is used by Jews in order to shut the world
It is also used to describe people who hate jews. They existed long before Israel came into existance and exist regardless of Israel. Indeed a reason for the existance of Israel is that when jews are persecuted there will always be someone to stand up for them.
That said it is perfectly reasonable to be critical of Israel. provided the same criteria are used on other countries.
"Obama should instead listen...." bla bla bla muslims are poor things.
Of course, the fact that muslms created Munchen of 1937 in Malmö is not important.
MUCH more important is the endless suffering of poor little muslims. For some reason Jews LEAVE Malmö and Paris, whereas muslims seem to increase their flow into these cities in SPITE of all the incredible horrors that ascend upon them
Who needs to be lectured on what anti-semitism is?
I cannot believe that Reepalu is that person.
The story has a distinct odor.
Please get your facts right. The meeting was on Tuesday, not Wednesday. Mr. Reepalu did not say that he was "pleased" with the meeting. He "appeared" to be pleased. "Men Ilmar Reepalu (S) verkade nöjd:" is what Sydsvenskan wrote.
You seem to be irritated when Jews "whine" when attacked on the streets and kidnapped. Apparently when a muslim screams to the "Heil Hitler", they are too sensitive and get out an unjustified "anti-semitism" card. I totally understand that.
However, you seem to be rather quick to compare Bosnia to Holocaust. You compare 6 million non-resisting dead to a warring nation, where every sunni terrorist went through school in its time.
You seem to be one of those wonderful followers of Mohammad, who not only commonise anti-semitism as "nothing special", you also commonise Holocaust to the wars that muslims participate in.
All I sincerely wish is that muslims would be treated in the west, PRECISELY in the way muslims treat Jews. Not less, not more. With the same relation to the weight of crimes committed by the respective countries. That is my only wish.
Now, if you think that it is a good wish, you are welcome for the compliment. If you think that is not such a good one, you are welcome to blush and STFU forever.
The anti semitism in Europe from Spain in west to Russia in East and from Greece in south up to Scandinavia in north did not start in Sweden and not in Malmo ,it exsists in Europe for 3500 years with out breaking of the hate fire against the Jews in different periods of that long history,the Scandinavian countries were much tollerant respecting other countries,and Sweden and Sweds even helped and saved Jews during the 2 WW,but even though it has never dissapeared and all over the world even in USA and Britain or Australia the Jews have to protect their religiouse and cultural centers.
The Zionist movment with Theodor Herzl understood it allready in 1889.
The place of the Jewish people is in Israel, there they can live their religious life without getting bothered.