Editorials
Article by Dr. Shimon Samuels published in The Jerusalem Post
11 July 2021
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-cairo-book-fair-remains-rife-with-antisemitism-opinion-673539
This May, in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, Abu Dhabi’s book fair was totally clean. This was not the case in Egypt.
The Shourouk bookstore features the bestselling hate books from the Cairo International Book Fair 2021
(photo Simon Wiesenthal Center).
The Simon Wiesenthal Center annually monitors the shelves of seven Arab Book Fairs for incitement to hatred and violence. We send our findings to the Frankfurt Book Fair, where measures are taken to ban the listed offenders.
Paris, 22 June 2021
Dear Roger,
I recall your creation of “SIONA Jewish Defence” and our work together against antisemitic terrorism in the 1980s.
It is ironic that you, your wife and son became the victims of violent Jew-hatred in your own Seine-Saint-Denis home.
Read more: Wiesenthal Centre Shimon Samuels’ Open Letter of...
Paris, 2 June 2021
To: Mr. Eric Pliez
Mayor of the 20th District
Paris, France
Mr. Mayor,
Both Jewish and non-Jewish members of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre-France have expressed distress at the large banners hung in Rue d’Avron in the 20th District, in particular the one calling for “Palestine Will Vanquish.”
Mr. Mayor, we fear that such banners will incite to hate and violence against the Jewish community in your municipal district.
We urge you to remove these banners, as such political statements are unbecoming to your municipal party causes of Socialism or Ecology.
Sincerely,
Dr. Shimon Samuels
Director for International Relations
Simon Wiesenthal Centre
* * *
“For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing.” (Simon Wiesenthal, 1908-2005)
Blog by Dr. Shimon Samuels published in The Times of Israel
29 May 2021
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/80th-farhud-anniversary-a-precursor-to-2021-violent-international-antisemitism/
The Wiesenthal Centre is proud to join 26 organizations, led by HARIF, the UK-based Association of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on 30 May, to commemorate, the 1 June 1941, Farhud Baghdad pogrom against its 2,700-year-old Jewish community.
80 years ago, Nazi Germany inspired then Iraqi Prime Minister, Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani, to unleash the Farhud (“violent dispossession” in Arabic), reportedly leaving over 180 Jews murdered, some 600 unknown bodies in a mass grave, 700 wounded, rapes and destruction of Jewish properties.
“We call on you to use the unfortunate “Apartheid” misnomer as the occasion to join Australia, Canada and the United States in boycotting the ‘Durban 4’ travesty.”
Paris, 24 May 2021
Mr President,
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre is shocked at the undiplomatic and insulting language of Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, in using “Apartheid” in reference to the State of Israel.
Not since President de Gaulle’s June 1967 “Six Day War” reference to “the Jews as an elite people, sure of itself and domineering,” has a French political leader made such a damaging statement towards the Jewish community.