News Releases 2024
Paris, 6 February 2024
Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon Samuels, commends President Macron’s initiative to hold a solemn commemoration tomorrow for the victims of Hamas, in particular for the 42 French citizens murdered since 7 October.
In an open letter, Samuels stated, “We are aware that a delegation of the extreme-left party La France Insoumise (LFI) will be present at the National Homage, though most of their MPs still refuse to call Hamas a terrorist organization. Their mere presence will be painful for many grieving families... We therefore urge you to take all necessary measures to avoid them repeating the words of denial and relativism that have stained the Assemblée Nationale and the media over the past four months.”
Paris, 3 February 2024
Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon Samuels, participated in last week’s Holocaust Victims’ Commemoration Day at UNESCO.
On 27 January 1945, Red Army troops discovered the Nazi horrors perpetrated in the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp.
In the wake of the 7 October terror attacks by Hamas, more than ever is it necessary to remember the effects of genocidal intent, and combat today’s threat of a repetition of the Shoah!
Among the speakers were UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, Vice-President of the Memorial of the Shoah, François Heilbronn, and President of the Munich Jewish Community, Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch. Samuels also met with Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, a friend of the Jewish people and a voice for moderate Islam, with whom the Centre has cooperated in tolerance education and against Islamist extremism over the past twenty years.
Samuels with Chalghoumi (photo Alain Azria).
In addition, the ceremony included several songs performed by the Institute of Concentrationary Music Literature, in particular melodies composed by Holocaust inmates. The Director of the Institute, Francesco Lotoro, was awarded by the Simon Wiesenthal Center with its Medal of Valour in 2020.
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FREE THE HOSTAGES!
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Paris, 26 January 2024
This week, the Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon Samuels, commended the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), that discussed a Report by MEP Piero Fassino (Italian Democratic Party), on “Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and Israel’s response” and expressed support for the latter, confirming its right to legitimate self-defence, with an overwhelming majority vote.
Trying to upset the debate, several Turkish parties, but also some radical left political figures, such as Jeremy Corbyn, submitted about 20 amendments, one-sidedly attacking Israel and its Observer Status at the PACE. For example, the Istanbul Women’s Association (IKADDER) accused the Jewish State as follows: “since 9 October 2023... Israel is committing blatant ‘war crimes’ in Gaza... indiscriminately killing civilians... imposing a ‘complete siege’, cutting off all access to food, water, electricity, fuel, and medicines, and ‘mass ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians.”
Paris, 19 January 2024
Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon Samuels, urged Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice (in southern France), to take action against the promotion in his town of a documentary film entitled “General Suleimani - Hero and Martyr of the Resistance”, by “Aissa Axe de la Resistance” (stage name of an anonymous pro-Iranian antisemite). The first screening of this Iran-backed travesty, organized by a shady ragbag of Jew-haters, is supposed to be held next 26 January, a day before the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The online poster of the event. Note the absence of venue details.
Paris, 12 January 2024
On behalf of the Wiesenthal Centre’s worldwide membership, Dr Shimon Samuels, Director for International Relations, wished success to 34-year-old Gabriel Attal, the newly nominated Prime Minister of France.
Prior to this nomination, Attal had been the French Government’s Spokesperson during the Coronavirus crisis and then, more recently, Education Minister, promoting legislation against conspicuous Islamist dress code and bullying at school, as well as championing lessons on “empathy” and “tolerance”.
Samuels noted the immediate antisemitic, homophobic and conspiracy theorist attacks against Mr. Attal on social media. He requested an early meeting to present the Wiesenthal Centre’s expertise on hate crimes and its educational programs.
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Free Kfir Bibas and all hostages held by Hamas
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