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JEWISH ANGER AT MALMÖ MAYOR

REEPALU

Obama’s anti-Semitism expert to meet Reepalu

Malmö mayor Ilmar Reepalu, still in the doghouse for recent comments about the city's Jewish community, will meet with President Barack Obama’s anti-Semitism representative, who is due to visit Malmö in two weeks.

Published: 10 April 2012 10:43 CEST
Obama's anti-Semitism expert to meet Reepalu

“This is not something she has decided hastily. She has wanted to visit for a long time,” said Julia Janiec, chief of staff at the Malmö mayor’s office to local paper Sydsvenskan.

According to the paper, US president Barack Obama persuaded Rosenthal to take on the role as his representative in the fight against anti-Semitism in November.

Rosenthal, whose father was a survivor of the Buchenwald concentration camp, has already provoked the Israeli government on a number of occasions by pointing out the difference between anti-Semitism and justified criticism against the state of Israel.

Spokesperson for the US embassy in Stockholm, Chris Dunnett, told the paper that Rosenthal has been following events in Malmö for some time and wants to make sure that there are no politicians in the area that encourage anti-Semitism, discrimination, and racism.

While in Sweden, Rosenthal will also meet with representatives from organizations such as Malmö mot diskriminering (‘Malmö against discrimination’) and ECCAR – the European Coalition of Cities against Racism, to which Malmö belongs.

Björn Lagerbäck, who works with an initiative by the city to combat racism and intolerance, told Sydsvenskan that the Americans want to stay informed about what Malmö is doing to combat the problems in the area.

“Anti-Semitism has existed since the beginning of time. There is every reason to look at what is going on today. We are all responsible,” Lagerbäck told the paper.

Malmö 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.

Reepalu has recanted his comments completely and is making every effort to reconcile with the local Jewish community.

Israeli ambassador to Sweden, Benny Dagan, has noted his efforts but recently said that he is hoping to see more hands-on approach to sorting out the troubles in the area, according to Sydsvenskan.

The Local/rm

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JEWISH

Anti-Semitism row ‘could mar’ Reepalu’s legacy

There has been a mixed reaction from Malmö’s Jewish community following Mayor Ilmar Reepalu’s decision to step down.

Published: 5 February 2013 15:51 CET
Anti-Semitism row 'could mar' Reepalu's legacy

Reepalu, 69, will bring his 19-year tenure to an end on July 1st. He addressed the anti-Semitism accusations, which have marred his latter years in charge, in a farewell editorial in newspaper Sydsvenskan, saying that his words had been misinterpreted.

Rabbi Shneur Kesselman, who has been on the receiving end of several anti-Semitic attacks, told The Local that he wouldn’t miss Reepalu.

“This issue was not about somebody stepping down but about taking responsibility. I truly hope that whoever takes his place is more responsible,” Kesselman said.

Kesselman, who dresses in traditional Jewish attire, has been physically attacked on the street and had the word Palestina carved into his car since moving to Malmö in 2004.

“Reeplau crossed the line on occasion with his comments and I just hope that his successor sees the reality of the situation,” the US native added.

“Many Jewish people living in Malmö have lost their sense of security because of his comments. The problem goes much deeper.”

At the beginning of 2011, Reepalu defended himself against anti-Semitism accusations.

“When people say that we have a right to take your land because we have some form of thousand-year promise from God that this is our land, then it creates conflicts,” Reepalu said to the regional Sydsvenskan newspaper.

“Then they say that I am anti-Semitic when I put this across. I am flabbergasted that they are then able to tie all this together.”

Frederik Sieradski, a spokesman for the Malmö Jewish community, told The Local that he didn’t wish to make a political statement regarding Reepalu’s imminent departure.

SEE ALSO: Malmö residents weigh in on Ilmar Reepalu’s legacy

Sieradski did add, however, that he wasn’t surprised the mayor was quitting as he approaches his 70th birthday.

“I just hope that the person who replaces him will cooperate with the Jewish community,” Sieradski said.

“It is important that there be respect and understanding for all faiths.”

Reepalu’s work on revitalizing Malmö as a post-industrial city was praised by Jehoshua Kaufman. The organizer of the city’s kippah walks said he didn’t see a connection between the mayor’s decision to quit and the anti-Semitism scandal.

“If you look at what he has done for the city, then he has been really good,” said Kaufman.

“Reepalu transformed the city from a port town to a post-industrial place with a lot of enterprise. He changed the outlook of the city.”

Kaufman suggested that Reepalu’s issues with the Jewish community would inevitably play a part in defining his legacy.

“From the outside, he will probably be known as the mayor who was accused of anti-Semitism. It is a little unfair if that is all he is remembered for, but at the same time he only has himself to blame. I wish him well in his retirement.”

Reepalu’s role in tackling Malmö’s record deficit was hailed by his Social Democrat colleague Joakim Sandell. Upon taking the reins in 1994, Sweden’s third largest city was 1.3 billion kronor ($206 million) in the red and had an unemployment rate of 22 percent.

“Malmö is an exceptionally different city now than before he took over. Now people want to move here, we have a university and landmarks like the Turning Torso,” said the chairman of the Malmö Social Democrats.

Sandell also addressed the anti-Semitism furore, saying that Reepalu had been “deeply affected” by the accusations.

“Hopefully people will see the bigger picture and the role he has played in reorganizing the city.”

Patrick Reilly

Follow Patrick on Twitter here

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