EJC calls on European leaders to cease contact with Mahmoud Abbas until he apologises for antisemitic comments

(Brussels, Wednesday, May 2, 2018) – The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has called on European leaders and officials to cease all contact with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas until he apologises for his outrageous antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

“For far too long European leaders have given Mahmoud Abbas the benefit of the doubt over his repeated incitement against Israel, the Jewish People and his denial of the Holocaust,” Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the EJC, said. “This must come to an end and he must be treated like any racist or antisemite and contact with him must cease until he apologises.”

“It is clear what the course of action European leaders would take if this was a neo-Nazi or far-Right leader. The comments and ideology are seemingly identical so the treatment should be the same.”

Abbas, who has faced accusations of antisemitism before, suggested in a rambling address to a rare meeting of the Palestinian National Council on Monday night that the Holocaust was a result of Jews’ “social behavior, [charging interest], and financial matters,” and claimed that European Jews have no ties with Israel and that Hitler struck a deal with Jews.

“This type of language has no place on the street let alone by someone who is considered a leader and a diplomatic interlocutor,” Dr. Kantor continued. “If the European leadership wants to be seen as an honest broker in the peace process and as standing against antisemitism, then it must do more than merely condemn these remarks.”

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Events & Meetings

EJC Director of European Affairs addresses high-level UNESCO “Educating against Antisemitism” conference in Paris

The conference brought together school inspectors, teacher trainers, educators, policymakers, and representatives of Jewish organisations and European institutions to share knowledge and good practices on preventing antisemitism through education.