The reason for the decision from the Jewish Central Council, an association of Jewish congregations in Sweden, is that several representatives of the Left Party have expressed themselves anti-Semitically and shown support for terrorist organizations.
There are structural problems with anti-Semitism in the Left Party. It does not feel suitable for representatives of such a party to participate as honorary guests, says Aron Verständig, chairman of the Jewish Central Council, to DN.
We have had a policy for many years not to invite the Sweden Democrats, he continues.
Two Left Party members, Orwa Kadoura in Malmö and Ali Hadrous in Landskrona, have left the party after being criticized for anti-Semitic statements. In the Left Party's local association in Angered, the chairman Kristofer Lundberg is currently suspended while being investigated for showing support for the terrorist-classified Palestinian PFLP.
Verständig believes that Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar delayed too long in publicly distancing herself from the individuals.
"We have acted sharply and clearly in all cases where anti-Semitism has occurred in our party. We look forward to a dialogue with the Jewish Central Council and will immediately send an invitation to talk", writes Dadgostar in a comment to TT.
