Malmö, Jews & Muslims.
John Jacobs,
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Malmö, Jews & Muslims.
In 2022, I was invited to a conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ethics in Malmö [1]. The main ethical concern of AI is discrimination, and the trip has been very insightful regarding human wisdom and living together. But first I’ll briefly discuss Eurovision and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before returning to the wider context of Jews and Muslims and changing war to peace in this world.
Eurovision.
The Eurovision Song Contest celebrates cultural diversity in Europe and its proximity (Israel, Turkey, former Soviet Republics, Australia). All entries should be free of politics. After Sweden won the contest in 2023, Malmö will be the place of the Eurovision in 2024. Although the Contest itself is free of politics it is not ignorant to the situation in the world. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and Russia was excluded from participation. The combination of a great song, and international sympathy helped the Ukrainian song to the victory that year. In reverse analogy to Ukraine, some people have called for a boycott of Israel.
Gaza-Israel war.
In October 2023, Hamas (Gaza) attacked Israel with terror (1269 murders, torture, kidnapping) [2] and 10.000 rockets [3]. About 10% of these rockets failed to reach Israel, and it seems likely that the infamous Gaza hospital destruction was caused by a Hamas rocket [4]. International legislations give Israel the right to fight back. Except for endless trench wars, hardly any war is proportional. Propaganda disturbs the causes of human suffering. It is another humanitarian disaster in region (following Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kurdistan). Both parties and their international allies seem to be putting out a fire with gasoline.
State of Zion.
Europe, North-Africa, and West-Asia have the diasporic homes for Jews for many centuries, with only a minority of Jews still living at the land described in the Bible. Following the defeat of the Ottoman empire in World War I, the British divided their area in Arabia in a French and British part, and the British part was further divided in several countries. The United Nations (UN) opted for a two-state solution in the historical disputed region with a Jewish and an Arab state [5]. As this two-state solution recognizes a Jewish homeland it is Zionist [6]. Founded in 1948, Israel has become a democratic state, including full democratic rights for Muslim, Arab, Druze, and Christian minorities [7], which is unique in the Arab world.
Nakba of Palestine.
The Arabic world refers to the founding of Israel as Nakba i.e., the catastrophe [8]. The remaining regions of Palestine, Westbank and Gaza, were not directly connected, but border Arabic countries, Jordan and Egypt, respectively. In 1947-1949, Israel abused the UN division plan to perform ethnic cleansing by chasing Arabs away from the area of the Jewish state. Israel has had many armed conflicts with neighbouring Arab states and generally showed its military superiority. Because of the Nakba feeling, antisemitism rose in many Arabic countries, and virtually all their Jews left for Israel, changing the population statistics of Israel.
Extreme crashes.
Extremists on both sides destabilize the peace process, by hate speech and violence, calling for war and destruction.
Israeli extremists do not settle for the internationally accepted borders of Zion. They push the borders on the Westbank by chasing away the Arabs. The current Israeli government provides silent support for this settler policy, which sharply contrast the human rights within the state of Israel [9].
In contrast to the Westbank, Gaza retained its full independence in 2006, but was torn away from it by an internal Palestinian conflict. In 2007, Hamas committed fratricide on Fatah became the ruler of Gaza [10]. The terror rule by Hamas [11] has isolated it from its Arab neighbour, Egypt, that completely closed its border with Gaza. Hamas receives financial support from Kuwait and Turkey, and, military support from Iran. In the Arab world, Hamas has received a Fatwa in early 2023 for (a) corruption and violation of human rights in Gaza, and (b) its violation of Islamic Law, the Holy Quran, and the Sunnah [12]. Hamas does not recognize the state of Israel, making it clear that it will not accept a two-state solution. Fatah slams Hamas for the terror attacks on 7 October 2023 [13].
The Jewish-Arabic conflict disperses all over the world, with hardliners in the West protesting against Israel before its counterattack, and for, how ironic, the alleged occupation of Gaza but not of the Westbank [14]. Antisemitic and Islamophobic feelings in Western world touch each other over this conflict, that seems insolvable. Yet human wisdom in Malmö showed the change by mutual understanding. So now I’ll switch to this Swedish city.
Israeli extremists do not settle for the internationally accepted borders of Zion. They push the borders on the Westbank by chasing away the Arabs. The current Israeli government provides silent support for this settler policy, which sharply contrast the human rights within the state of Israel [9].
In contrast to the Westbank, Gaza retained its full independence in 2006, but was torn away from it by an internal Palestinian conflict. In 2007, Hamas committed fratricide on Fatah became the ruler of Gaza [10]. The terror rule by Hamas [11] has isolated it from its Arab neighbour, Egypt, that completely closed its border with Gaza. Hamas receives financial support from Kuwait and Turkey, and, military support from Iran. In the Arab world, Hamas has received a Fatwa in early 2023 for (a) corruption and violation of human rights in Gaza, and (b) its violation of Islamic Law, the Holy Quran, and the Sunnah [12]. Hamas does not recognize the state of Israel, making it clear that it will not accept a two-state solution. Fatah slams Hamas for the terror attacks on 7 October 2023 [13].
The Jewish-Arabic conflict disperses all over the world, with hardliners in the West protesting against Israel before its counterattack, and for, how ironic, the alleged occupation of Gaza but not of the Westbank [14]. Antisemitic and Islamophobic feelings in Western world touch each other over this conflict, that seems insolvable. Yet human wisdom in Malmö showed the change by mutual understanding. So now I’ll switch to this Swedish city.
Diverse Malmö.
In 1943, occupied Denmark could no longer stop Nazi Germany from the systematic destruction of Jews in their area. The Danes helped 95% of their Jews to escape to cities in the south of Sweden, like Malmö [15]. Around the turn of the century, many refugees came from East-Europe and the mediterranean area [16]. Currently, the city harbours over 180 nationalities. Only 42% of the people from the city are born in Sweden, just like both their parents. Another 36% is foreign born, and another 22% has one or both parents foreign born [17]. Almost 40% of its population is Christian, 13% Muslim, and 0,14% Jews [18]. The city has a southern European feel, in contrast to its northern European location.
In 2012 and 2017, bombs were placed at Malmö synagogues, and Jews were threatened [19]. Extremists don’t talk with each other but recite the other’s rhetoric to escalate the conflict [20]. Considering the ethnical powder keg, an ethnic conflict could rip this beautiful city to pieces. I’ll return to the AI conference on how to stop this conflict.
In 2012 and 2017, bombs were placed at Malmö synagogues, and Jews were threatened [19]. Extremists don’t talk with each other but recite the other’s rhetoric to escalate the conflict [20]. Considering the ethnical powder keg, an ethnic conflict could rip this beautiful city to pieces. I’ll return to the AI conference on how to stop this conflict.
Road to peace.
A local Rabbi and Iman shared their wisdom and experiences on this AI conference in Malmö. I do not mean mathematical tools to distinguish safety risks better, but on ancient human wisdom. They showed and talked about the peaceful change in in Malmö that happened because of human dialogue and understanding [21]. The Abrahamic religions share crucial humanitarian values, and getting to know each other, paves the way for peaceful coexisting. At every incidence, against Jewish or against Muslims, their religious leaders would reach out to each other, sharing their concerns on safety, and religious values and backgrounds. They would communicate with their followers, and they stood up for each other in their statement for de-escalation and peace. Minorities should not have to protect themselves from threats, but the broader community should stand up for them. If we do not protect the others, when they are threatened or attacked, no one will protect us.
The dialogue between Rabbi and Iman was impressive, and the effectiveness of their cooperation was confirmed by the mayor of the city. She showed the city’s history and told how it changed the city from repeated escalations to finding peaceful solutions to live together.
The dialogue between Rabbi and Iman was impressive, and the effectiveness of their cooperation was confirmed by the mayor of the city. She showed the city’s history and told how it changed the city from repeated escalations to finding peaceful solutions to live together.
Apply.
I don't think that the people in Malmö are very different from those in the rest of the world. It is always difficult to love who you do not know. Xenophobia is intrinsically the fear of the unknown, with hatred and dehumanization. Politicians use and abuse the alien aspects to create distance for popular votes. The story of the stranger changes when meeting them: they become interesting new friends.
Human wisdom starts with meeting face-to-face, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul. My friends might be ethnically, culturally, religiously different, but they are fellow human beings in their hearts. I love them because I know them.
Human wisdom starts with meeting face-to-face, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul. My friends might be ethnically, culturally, religiously different, but they are fellow human beings in their hearts. I love them because I know them.
John Jacobs,
5 May 2024
5 May 2024
See also: I don't stand
Sources
[1] https://ceceurope.org/cec-summer-school-focuses-on-security-artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights
[2] https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel_in_2023
[4] https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/26/gaza-findings-october-17-al-ahli-hospital-explosion
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-state_solution
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism
[7] https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isra%C3%ABl
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakba
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bank
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatah%E2%80%93Hamas_conflict
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
[12] https://fatwacouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/English-Resolution-Document-of-Fatwa-No.-F02301-compressed.pdf
[13] https://www.timesofisrael.com/fatah-hits-back-at-other-palestinian-groups-criticism-over-new-pa-prime-minister/
[14] https://peoplesforum.org/blog_post/statement-on-times-square-palestine-protest-held-on-october-8-2023/
[15] https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/rescue-of-the-danish-jews
[16] https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/library-document/diversity-policy-employment-and-service-provision-case-study-Malmö-sweden_en
[17] https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07
[18] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malm%C3%B6
[19] https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/malm-x00f6
[20] https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sweden/
[21] https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-change-became-possible-in-a-hot-bed-of-intolerance-Malmö-sweden/
[1] https://ceceurope.org/cec-summer-school-focuses-on-security-artificial-intelligence-and-human-rights
[2] https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel_in_2023
[4] https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/26/gaza-findings-october-17-al-ahli-hospital-explosion
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-state_solution
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism
[7] https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isra%C3%ABl
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakba
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bank
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatah%E2%80%93Hamas_conflict
[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
[12] https://fatwacouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/English-Resolution-Document-of-Fatwa-No.-F02301-compressed.pdf
[13] https://www.timesofisrael.com/fatah-hits-back-at-other-palestinian-groups-criticism-over-new-pa-prime-minister/
[14] https://peoplesforum.org/blog_post/statement-on-times-square-palestine-protest-held-on-october-8-2023/
[15] https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/rescue-of-the-danish-jews
[16] https://migrant-integration.ec.europa.eu/library-document/diversity-policy-employment-and-service-provision-case-study-Malmö-sweden_en
[17] https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07
[18] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malm%C3%B6
[19] https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/malm-x00f6
[20] https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sweden/
[21] https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-change-became-possible-in-a-hot-bed-of-intolerance-Malmö-sweden/
