Planned Torah, Bible-Burning Event in Sweden Spurs Outrage from Israeli Officials: 'Shameful Decision'
Israel came out swinging at Swedish officials on Friday, July 14, following the decision by Stockholm police to allow the Bible and Torah to be burned during a protest scheduled for last weekend outside the Israeli Embassy.
Jerusalem called on the Swedish government to stop the protests, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "The sacred books of all religions must be respected. I strongly condemn the decision of the authorities in Sweden to allow the burning of a Bible book in front of the Israeli embassy in the country."
"The State of Israel takes very seriously this shameful decision that damages the Holy of Holies of the Jewish people," he added.
Other top Israeli officials - including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett - as well as the European Jewish Congress (EJC) and Israel's Chief Rabbi Lau "unequivocally" condemned the permissions granted during the planned protests.
Herzog, said, "As the President of the State of Israel, I condemned the burning of the Quran, sacred to The Muslim world over, and I am now heartbroken that the same fate awaits a Jewish Bible, the eternal book of the Jewish people."
"Permitting the defacement of sacred texts is not an exercise in freedom of expression; it is blatant incitement and an act of pure hate," he added. "The whole world must join together in clearly condemning this repulsive act."
The decision by Stockholm police comes just weeks after Sweden faced backlash when the Quran was burned in anti-Islam protests outside a Stockholm mosque by an Iraqi immigrant late last month. (FN / VFI News)
“Lord, we thank You that Your word withstands the hatred aimed against it. We ask that You would silence the haters and bring justice to those who wish to destroy Your holy Word. We also pray for protection over the Jewish people and Israelis abroad.”