Löfven: Ordinary people contributed to anti-Semitism

- It is a very powerful experience of one of humanity's perhaps darkest periods. The Holocaust is that, and we have to dare and dare to take on the awfulness, violence and humiliation and perhaps most importantly, that this was not something that only came with Nazi Germany, that it was only Nazis in uniform, but it was also ordinary people who contribute to anti-Semitism, says Stefan Löfven after a tour of Yad Vashem.

In addition to commemorating the Holocaust victims, the theme of Thursday's meeting is the fight against today's anti-Semitism. In an article in the Israeli online magazine Y-net, Stefan Löfven writes before the ceremony that Sweden adheres to the definition of anti-Semitism and the list of examples adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), in which Sweden is a member.

Among other things, it means that some form of criticism of Israel is to be classed as anti-Semitism.

- We have supported the definition before, now we also mention the examples precisely because they can be examples of what may be anti-Semitism. We are very clear that we stand up for Israel's right to be a state within safe borders. But just as with all other states: if we think that a country is doing something wrong, then we are expressing that too. But if it involves questioning Israel as a state, then that is something we must guard, Löfven tells TT.

In the article, Löfven also points out that Sweden has problems with anti-Semitism. It is found in right-wing groups, in Islamist environments, but also in parts of the left. He particularly highlights the fact that some people who have moved to Sweden come from countries where hatred of Jews is taught in schools and in state propaganda.

At the same time, the government is being criticized for financially supporting UNWRA, which uses textbooks with such content in Gaza and the West Bank. On Thursday, Löfven holds a meeting with several Jewish organizations. One of them is the Anti-Defemation League (ADL), whose director Jonathan Greenblaat points out to TT that Sweden is one of the main financiers of Palestinian UNRWA.

- Pervasive anti-Semitic and violent content is still in the latest official textbooks from the Palestinian Authority (PA) used by the UNWRA in the West Bank and Gaza. We urge all who financially support PA and UNWRA to make it clear that this material is unacceptable and must be changed without delay, says Greenblatt.

Some 40 Heads of State and Government, including Russia's President Vladimir Putin, France's President Emmanuel Macron, and US Vice President Michael Pence, will be present.

Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet forces on January 27, 1945, and therefore Russian President Vladimir Putin is one of the keynote speakers.