The Jewish Central Council has agreed to a meeting with the Left Party, after deciding in the autumn to exclude the party from its memorial ceremonies.
We believe in dialogue, says chairman Aron Verständig.
The Jewish Central Council, which is an association of Jewish congregations in Sweden, has decided that V is no longer welcome at commemorations, after several representatives of the party expressed themselves as anti-Semitic and showed support for terrorist organizations.
Now the parties will meet, after the Left Party got in touch and asked for a meeting. The details are not yet set but it could be done next week.
What does it take for V to be welcomed by you again?
It’s not like we come up with any demands or lists, says Aron Verständig to TT.
The problems we have mentioned are not about a few individuals. These are structural problems and then it is important to show a willingness to deal with them.
Left-wing leader Nooshi Dadgostar announced immediately after the decision became known that the party would contact the organization. Verständig also believes that she takes the problems seriously.
I think Nooshi Dadgostar has been very clear.
But at the same time, in the past year, and especially this summer and now in the autumn, we have been met with a great many different revelations and cases where individuals have said things that are downright anti-Semitic and have been supported by large groups within the Left Party.
When the Sweden Democrats entered the Riksdag, the Jewish Central Council decided that they would not be invited.
I see no reason to reconsider that decision, says Aron Verständig.
At the same time, he says that they are always open to meetings.
But it also has to be serious. It must be a meeting that is about wanting to discuss something.
Aron Verständig, chairman of the Jewish Central Council. Archive image.
Aron Verständig, chairman of the Jewish Central Council. Archive image.
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT
Cases of anti-Semitism within V
Two leftists, Orwa Kadoura in Malmö and Ali Hadrous in Landskrona, have left the party after being criticized for anti-Semitic statements.
IV’s local association in Angered, the chairman Kristofer Lundberg is currently suspended while he is being investigated for having shown support for the terrorist-classified Palestinian PFLP.