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Last update - 04:20 23/08/2009
Comment / Lieberman wrongly stirring scandal over Sweden article
By Tom Segev
Tags: avigdor lieberman 

Not far from the memorial square in the Yad Vashem compound in Jerusalem, a white vehicle is parked - part bus, part ambulance. It is one of 36 such vehicles that were used during the final weeks of World War II for the transfer of thousands of Nazi concentration camp prisoners from Germany to Sweden.

The official Web site of Yad Vashem states the convoy of vehicles rescued some 27,000 prisoners from Germany, including several thousand Jews, mostly women. The historian Yehuda Bauer says some 21,000 persons were rescued this way, and among them were 6,500 Jews.

The diplomatic scandal that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman stirred over the article in the Swedish daily Aftonbladet is wrong since the government of a state that respects the freedom of the press is not responsible for what newspapers publish. That there was a demand for the Swedish government to "condemn" the article in question suggests Lieberman must still be thinking in Soviet terms.
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The comparison between Sweden's refusal to condemn the article and its alleged silence during the Holocaust will not further Israel's foreign policy any more than the racist ideology of Yisrael Beiteinu.

From a historic point of view, too, the minister's claims are misplaced. Sweden's King Gustav V demanded of the Hungarian ruler at the time, Admiral Miklos Horthy, that the Jews in Hungary not be expelled. What is much more important is that Sweden saved the lives of some 20,000 Jews.

Like other countries, Sweden failed to aid persecuted Jews in the 1930s, mostly in Germany and Austria, and only a few were allowed to settle in its territory. So it is possible to say the Swedes are partly responsible for the death of every Jewish refugee who was not allowed entry into Sweden and was later murdered by the Nazis. This is an accusation that can be directed at any country that turns away refugees who are fleeing death, including Israel.

During the war Sweden was neutral. Many Swedes made a living, and a few became wealthy, as a result of trade with Nazi Germany; they also provided items that contributed to the efforts of the Nazi war machine. It may well be the Swedes would have been able to look themselves in the mirror of history with greater pride had they decided at the time to join the war against the Nazis. Either way, Swedish neutrality enabled the various rescue organizations, including Jewish groups, to base themselves in Stockholm and work from there in support of the persecuted. The main rescue efforts were carried out with the acknowledgment of the Swedish government, and some even as a result of its initiatives.

In October 1943, Sweden permitted nearly 8,000 Jews to enter the country, and thus saved their lives. In the summer of 1944, the Swedish embassy in Budapest issued documents to some 4,500 Hungarian Jews. These documents served to save thousands of other Jews. The Swedish banker Raul Wallenberg, who later disappeared in a Soviet prison, is best known for this operation.

The White Bus Operation, during the last weeks of the war, was made possible in part as a result of the negotiations between the SS Commander Heinrich Himmler and the Swedish Count Folke Bernadotte, who was later murdered in Jerusalem because of the peace plan he had proposed.

Sweden is one of the few countries that has passed special legislation against anti-Semitism. In January 2000, it also hosted an important international conference that gave a major boost to the global struggle against Holocaust denial.

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      1.   Fully expected 04:22  |  Arie 23/08/09
      2.   THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS` SWEDEN 04:24  |  Marcus 23/08/09
      3.   Reality check of "neutral" Sweden 04:26  |  Christopher 23/08/09
      4.   Enter Chris Linthwaite, the former bed-wetter from Yorskshire. 04:30  |  flyingdoc57 23/08/09
      5.   Segev, grow up! Avigdor is correct and you are skirtimg the issue 04:48  |  Claudia 23/08/09
      6.   Mr. Lieberman is more interested 04:50  |  Mark Lincoln 23/08/09
      7.   Tom Segev, bravo. Good to see your commentary again... 04:53  |  BBSNews 23/08/09
      8.   Legislation is meaningless--actions counts 05:05  |  IW 23/08/09
      9.   Sweden took down a website that showed cartoon of mohammed 05:21  |  dan 23/08/09
      10.   Sweden`s neutrality 05:22  |  MR 23/08/09
      11.   Lieberman Is A Scandal. 05:30  |  Rebecca 23/08/09
      12.   Nonsense...Sweden today is the definition of Anti Semitic 05:51  |  Mark 23/08/09
      13.   Yisrael Beiteinu 05:54  |  Steve of Mevaserret 23/08/09
      14.   Sweden and Nazi Germany.... the story is well known 07:32  |  Mike 23/08/09
      15.   Lieberman an incompetant liability... 07:38  |  Esther 23/08/09
      16.   the Western Europe went back to the Anti-Semitism of 1930th 07:41  |  a Jew 23/08/09
      17.   Agenda Vs Availing of all facts 07:44  |  ron 23/08/09
      18.   Rebecca 07:45  |  Edifice 23/08/09
      19.   Sorry Segev, "freedom of the press" does not mean you can lie 08:13  |  Joe Sittizen 23/08/09
      20.   the 1933 transfer agreement between the pre-state of israel 08:21  |  yaqov 23/08/09
      21.   What have you done for me lately 08:50  |  Natallie Durson 23/08/09
      22.   Sweeden 08:53  |  Moshe 23/08/09
      23.   wrong move by israel 09:00  |  dave 23/08/09
      24.   It Is a Scandal. 09:01  |  Eli Wapniarski 23/08/09
      25.   Dont shoot the messenger: its not about Lieberman:think twice Tom 09:11  |  Gidon 23/08/09
      26.   Tom Segev 09:16  |  Perplexed 23/08/09
      27.   He makes new `brilliant` declarations.... 09:22  |  Esther 23/08/09
      28.   At last 09:27  |  harvey 23/08/09
      29.   European Anti-Semitism. 09:28  |  B. Gold 23/08/09
      30.   Liberman talking? 09:29  |  KT 23/08/09
      31.   Populist politicians 09:31  |  sh 23/08/09
      32.   Steve#9, well yes, Yisrael Beiteinu is a kind of trade union... 09:33  |  Esther 23/08/09
      33.   Libermans stupidity causing a major crise 09:41  |  Joe 23/08/09
      34.   Gidon in Amsterdam 09:42  |  dave 23/08/09
      35.   Israeli Gov`t should condemn Haaretz 09:49  |  curious 23/08/09
      36.   freedom of the press irrelevent 09:56  |  Lenny 23/08/09
      37.   Tom Segev, Swedish article 10:04  |  wagner 23/08/09
      38.   Comment over Sweden /Israel article 10:07  |  john skovbo 23/08/09
      39.   Just for the political correctness, Sweden 10:09  |  Ardi 23/08/09
      40.   Just for the political correctness, Sweden 10:09  |  Ardi 23/08/09
      41.   Liberman`s diplomacy may destroy Israel - he is a calamity 10:18  |  Strangelove 23/08/09
      42.   I don`t care what this antisemitic nation is doing. 10:19  |  Alex 23/08/09
      43.   #19 Wrong move by israel 10:21  |  Strangelove 23/08/09
      44.   tom segev and facts 10:25  |  v 23/08/09
      45.   shades of Krushchev 10:42  |  Jim 23/08/09
      46.   I wonder 10:45  |  Jim 23/08/09
      47.   Re: What have you done for me lately 10:49  |  Sanjassi 23/08/09
      48.   How sad and pathetic 10:53  |  Smith 23/08/09
      49.   re: Sweden took down a website that showed cartoon of mohammed 10:54  |  Sanjassi 23/08/09
      50.   At least Bildt called the article "strange" 11:25  |  Daniel Bernard 23/08/09
      51.   Let`s be honest, would this article have ever been published..... 11:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 23/08/09
      52.   SANJASSI ISRAEL sent aid to disaters all over the world. 11:41  |  PETER SM 23/08/09
      53.   #4 flyingdoc57 11:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 23/08/09
      54.   Obvious falsehoods in "Haaretz" servile article 12:03  |  Absolute Sweden 23/08/09
      55.   SWEDEN 12:08  |  OZ 23/08/09
      56.   sanjassi 12:31  |  shimi 23/08/09
      57.   Raising the dust 12:33  |  Yom Tov 23/08/09
      58.   Shimi 13:08  |  Sanjassi 23/08/09
      59.   sanjassi 13:21  |  oz 23/08/09
      60.   to sh of eretz nehederet 13:32  |  v 23/08/09
      61.   Claudia # 5 - please READ the essay 13:33  |  Nahman Umani 23/08/09
      62.   the land of peace 13:47  |  oz 23/08/09
      63.   Side 13:53  |  Ässet 23/08/09
      64.   Proper response by Israel 13:57  |  Colin 23/08/09
      65.   oz 14:08  |  Sanjassi 23/08/09
      66.   Turn the other cheek 14:45  |  sechel 23/08/09
      67.   What`s wrong with saying it is disgusting or even antisemitic? 14:52  |  Lisa 23/08/09
      68.   News information 14:54  |  Johannes 23/08/09
      69.   Segev is so dishonest 15:17  |  Maya 23/08/09
      70.   9#that is true Dan 15:20  |  Alex 23/08/09
      71.   Freedom of speech according to Tom Segev 15:21  |  Gene 23/08/09
      72.   #65 Johannes 15:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 23/08/09
      73.   Ester #15 15:25  |  James 23/08/09
      74.   # 47 Israel took out two nuclear reactors. 15:52  |  petra 23/08/09
      75.   Im sorry to say 16:06  |  Nils 23/08/09
      76.   Don`t Boycott Sweden 16:14  |  Eli 23/08/09
      77.   Tom Segev Knows the Answer, What was the Question? 16:15  |  Shel Zahav 23/08/09
      78.   Thank you 16:48  |  Stefan 23/08/09
      79.   #76 Eli of Toronto 16:51  |  Chris Linthwaite 23/08/09
      80.   Scary and sad 16:51  |  Eva 23/08/09
      81.   #74 Petra 16:55  |  Chris Linthwaite 23/08/09
      82.   Official Hate 17:02  |  THK 23/08/09
      83.   Open your eyes for on-going developments 17:06  |  Roberto 23/08/09
      84.   Mind your own business 17:13  |  Jan 23/08/09
      85.   Re: #17 Ron 17:23  |  Apa 23/08/09
      86.   #84 Jan - Minding my business 17:35  |  THK 23/08/09
      87.   Why... 17:54  |  hollingsworth 23/08/09
      88.   No antisemitism 18:00  |  Gustav 23/08/09
      89.   The problem is Lieberman 18:15  |  John 23/08/09
      90.   Israel as Moldova SSR with a Touch of Iran 18:15  |  Dolphin 23/08/09
      91.   Thank You Tom Segev!!! 18:25  |  Yaakov 23/08/09
      92.   To "a Jew" #16 18:35  |  Gustav 23/08/09
      93.   Swedish socialists 18:36  |  David 23/08/09
      94.   Arie and blood libels 19:50  |  Janice 23/08/09
      95.   #72 Chris 19:55  |  Johannes 23/08/09
      96.   Antisemitism! 20:36  |  Richard 23/08/09
      97.   Embarassing people! 20:45  |  Calle 23/08/09
      98.   The perception of a Swedish Jew 20:52  |  Esaias 23/08/09
      99.   Typical leftist appeasement article avoiding straight talk 21:19  |  bernard ross 23/08/09
      100.   Swedish anti-semitism 21:31  |  Sarah 23/08/09
      101.   Sweden is NOT antisemitic! 21:32  |  Richie 23/08/09
      102.   Mohammed cartoon affair 21:44  |  Erben 23/08/09
      103.   re: Sweden took down a website that showed cartoon of mohammed 21:59  |  Mathias 23/08/09
      104.   National suicide in full motion? israel murdering itself, part 3! 22:01  |  Anti Bs Chick 23/08/09
      105.   #1 22:04  |  Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf 23/08/09
      106.   joe sitizzen.....WRONG 22:09  |  had enough 23/08/09
      107.   Esaias---what slap from the world will Sweden get 22:16  |  Labhras 23/08/09
      108.   Great Article Tom Segev ... Very informative 22:44  |  Ines 23/08/09
      109.   21 natallie durson GOOD JOB and RESPECT ! 22:44  |  Anti Bs Chick 23/08/09
      110.   You are not doing yourselves any favors... 22:54  |  Swede, partly jewish 23/08/09
      111.   Re 1 Come on ... Arie .... You cannot be serious 22:57  |  Ines 23/08/09
      112.   To dan, #9 23:00  |  Jan Andersen 23/08/09
      113.   Janice and "blood libel" 23:00  |  Arie 23/08/09
      114.   Calle- Swede Modern Age 23:05  |  Christopher 23/08/09
      115.   To Sanjassi, #49 23:05  |  Jan Andersen 23/08/09
      116.   jan 23:10  |  oz 23/08/09
      117.   link doesnt function 23:21  |  Daniel Bentley 23/08/09
      118.   Re # 2 Yah Marcus You may be right 23:22  |  Ines 23/08/09
      119.   Re# 3 Yah ..right ... 23:37  |  Ines 23/08/09
      120.   Send Lieberman home to Moldova! 23:38  |  James 23/08/09
      121.   Why Haaretz so quick to defend Sweden? 23:50  |  Baruch Gold 23/08/09
      122.   A voice from Sweden 23:54  |  F 23/08/09
      123.   So much shame 00:14  |  World citizen 24/08/09
      124.   And Isreal is so proud of its democracy 00:31  |  Me 24/08/09
      125.   and what about TODAY 00:35  |  demo 24/08/09
      126.   un-democratic behavior in Israel 00:39  |  demo 24/08/09
      127.   Previous allegations by zegev 00:39  |  Arie 24/08/09
      128.   Lieberman / Sweden article 00:49  |  RR 24/08/09
      129.   double standards 00:50  |  me 24/08/09
      130.   We are minding our own business 00:51  |  Eva 24/08/09
      131.   me @ 100 - anti-Black bigotry 03:18  |  ChanahS 24/08/09
      132.   Relax damn 03:27  |  Kalle A 24/08/09
      133.   Janice, damned good memory! 03:44  |  BBSNews 24/08/09
      134.   "Condemnation, not aplogy" 03:51  |  i-care 24/08/09
      135.   Re: Agenda Vs Availing of all facts 04:31  |  Jonas 24/08/09
      136.   Count Folke Bernadotte`s "Peace Plan" 06:47  |  Steve of Mevaserret 24/08/09
      137.   The stupidity of Sweedish government is amazing 06:50  |  Ron 24/08/09
      138.   European Leftists Are Enemies of Israel 06:51  |  mike 24/08/09
      139.   #113 i-care asks a question 07:34  |  Johnboy 24/08/09
      140.   Another bungled PR affair by this incompetent government 08:03  |  Benjamin Dover 24/08/09
      141.   Petra 08:04  |  lynne 24/08/09
      142.   Chris Linthwaite and others (#81) 08:18  |  Gil 24/08/09
      143.   oz 08:21  |  lynne 24/08/09
      144.   Steve of Mevaserret...the historian 09:02  |  had enough 24/08/09
      145.   Lieberman`s displaced behavior 09:42  |  Emmanuel 24/08/09
      146.   #116 Ron, you might want to read your 1st line again. 09:53  |  Johnboy 24/08/09
      147.   Israel as a normal state 11:09  |  Luca 24/08/09
      148.   Mysterious changes in Liebermanda department.... 12:12  |  zmogus 24/08/09
      149.   Neither an apology nor a condemnation is realistic. 14:41  |  William 24/08/09
      150.   Poor relations is sad 15:03  |  Zico 24/08/09
      151.   Is it fun to be alone? 00:27  |  Erik the viking 25/08/09
      152.   Typical 01:08  |  Gjert Myrestrand 25/08/09
      153.   Typical 01:20  |  Gjert Myrestrand 25/08/09
      154.   Swedish minister had to resign for breaching constitutional law 17:03  |  sarah 25/08/09
      155.   nmber 129 18:25  |  Joe 25/08/09
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