U.S. Envoy Protests Anti-Semitism In Swedish City

The Forward reported yesterday that Hannah Rosenthal, the United States special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, held a meeting earlier this week with Ilmar Reepalu, mayor of the Swedish city of Malmo, to call attention to the anti-Semitism rampant in the city and the city's lack of adequate response to it. Malmö’s only rabbi, Shneur Kesselman, has been the victim of more than 50 anti-Semitic incidents during his 8 years serving the 760 members of the city's Jewish community. The anti-Semitism comes mainly from Muslims and anti-Israel activists in the city. Malmo has 45,000 Muslims, most of whom live n the eastern part of the city where the unemployment rate is 80%. The mayor has angered the city's Jewish community by saying it bears responsibility for the anti-Semitic attacks because it has not condemned Israeli treatment of Palestinians.