A protest by pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside a Jewish school in Stockholm has sparked outrage, including from Sweden's Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand. The protest, which featured a sign stating 'all children are equal,' was criticized for its location, given the security threats faced by Jewish children. Political leaders have condemned the act as antisemitism and 'terror in everyday life.'
Swedish Culture Minister Condemns Protest at Jewish School: 'Appalling'
Swedish Culture Minister Condemns Protest at Jewish School: 'Appalling'
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Monday outside the Jewish school in Stockholm, carrying a message that 'all children are equal.' This act has notably angered Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand.
'Another line has been crossed. This is appalling,' she wrote on Instagram.
In the afternoon, a group of people assembled outside the Jewish Hillel School in Stockholm, holding a sign with the message 'all children are equal.' The action has sparked strong reactions.
'We have a situation where Jewish children need police protection due to threats against them. Then a small group of demonstrators chooses to stand right there,' said Aron Verständig, chairman of the Jewish Central Council.
The school has been accustomed to police surveillance for two years. Despite this, many parents felt uneasy when picking up their children on Monday, according to Verständig.
'Many have reached out, saying it was very uncomfortable. If you want to protest against the state of Israel, the state of Israel has an embassy in Stockholm. I don't understand what they aim to achieve by standing right there,' he said.
M-Representative: 'Terror in Everyday Life'
Political reactions have been swift.
'Another line has been crossed. This is appalling. There is no context or message in the world that justifies standing with this outside Jewish schools,' wrote Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand (M) in an Instagram post.
The leader of the Moderate Party in parliament, Mattias Karlsson, described the action as 'antisemitism in its purest form.'
'This is not about Israel. This is not about politics. This is about standing outside a Jewish school, when children are going home, with banners that blame their identity. It is terror in everyday life,' he wrote on X.