Sweden has earmarked 4 million kronor (about $630,000) to boost security for the country’s small Jewish minority.
The move comes after criticism at home and internationally that Sweden needs to do more to protect Jews from anti-Semitic hate crimes.
Integration Minister Erik Ullenhag says if no extra security measures are taken “there is a risk that people don’t dare visit synagogues in Sweden.”
Sweden saw a surge in reported hate crimes against Jews — including harassment, violence and vandalism — in the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza in 2009. Many Swedish Jews say they’ve experienced growing hostility in recent years, especially in the southern city of Malmo, which has a fast-growing Muslim population.
An estimated 20,000 Jews live in Sweden. — ap