Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen (Likud) also condemned the planned burnings, saying, "Burning a Torah scroll is a hate crime and provocation, and causes serious harm to the Jewish nation and to Jewish tradition. I call on the Swedish authorities to prevent this shameful event, and to not allow the burning of a Torah scroll." At the same time, Cohen instructed the Israeli Ambassador in Sweden and the Foreign Ministry headquarters to "act in every way in order to prevent this shameful event."