News Releases 2016
Wiesenthal Centre at the Organization of American States: “During a plenary session, we urged Argentine Foreign Minister, Susanna Malcorra, to follow the apologies of France and Brazil in having voted for the UNESCO resolution that designated the Temple Mount and the Western Wall as Islamic sites.”
"'From Sosua to Mashav' represents a journey from Jewish utter powerlessness in 1938 to the independent Jewish State today contributing its expertise to the welfare of others Perhaps these glimmers at the OAS may mark a step in the prophetic passage of the Jewish hope: From 'a people that dwells alone' to 'a light unto the nations'."
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 16 June 2016
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre, in consultative status to the Organization of American States (OAS), participated in the regional 46 General Assembly in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
In private meetings with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro and his staff, the Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, and Dr. Ariel Gelblung, Latin American Representative, presented their findings on the growing terrorist threat in Latin America.
Left to right: Samuels, Secretary General Luis Almagro, Gelblung.
Wiesenthal Centre to DGB (German Trade Union Federation): "Blocking the Promotion of a Hate-Monger is Insufficient. He must be Fired to Prevent Infection of his Peers"
Paris, 10 June 2016
In a letter to the Chairman, Mr. Reiner Hoffmann of the DGB, Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, "commended its Worker's Council for its decision to block the promotion of a hate-monger".
The letter stressed that "the Centre's members are delighted to learn that in view of the anti-Christian and antisemitic expressions of, reportedly, 'a 35 year old Muslim employee' of Hasco, Global Equipment Supplier, on his Facebook page, your board has decided to block his promotion".
"Bremen seems to be the BDS capital of today's Germany, where uniformed Hitler Youth-style goons terrorize supermarket staff in looting Israeli and other Kosher products, destroying them in a paroxysm of Jew-hatred."
Paris, 6 June 2016
In a letter to Bremen Mayor, Carsten Seiling, Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed concern at "the inaction of your municipality against a reportedly, increasingly violent antisemitic campaign, otherwise known as BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions), reminiscent of the 1930's 'Kaufen nicht bei Juden' (Do Not Buy From Jews) assaults in Nazi Germany."
The letter argued that "Bremen seems to be the BDS capital of today's Germany, where uniformed Hitler Youth-style goons terrorize supermarket staff in looting Israeli and other Kosher products, destroying them in a paroxysm of Jew-hatred."
Samuels noted that "your city was once celebrated as a leader of the free-trade Hanseatic League. BDS is, in fact, a violation of the World Trade Organisation's cardinal principal of open commerce," adding, "apparently, the German BDS movement operates from the Villa Ichon, owned by the City of Bremen, and seat of the 'Bremen Peace Forum', ostensibly leased as a 'place to meet for associations, especially for cultural and social life'."
The Centre stated, "Mr. Mayor, if you are proud to see BDS as a 'cultural and social' phenomenon, the image of Bremen is sadly tarnished," urging him "to invoke your municipal integrity to publicly condemn BDS and take measures for the rapid eviction of these hooligans from the Villa Ichon."
"Your continued inaction can only be construed as championship of BDS and co-responsibility in possibly violent repercussions against the Jewish community," concluded Samuels.
This article first appeared in "The Times of Israel"
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-paris-peace-conference-a-roadmap-nightmare/
This Friday, 3 June, President Hollande will host 20 nations in Paris to frame a resolution to solve the Israel-Palestinian problem.
In contradistinction to the Madrid conference of 1992,Israel, a sovereign State and a central party to the issue, is not invited,while “Palestine” proxies will try to drive the agenda.
Perhaps the gathering is a legacy of a centennial revisit to the May 1916 Sykes-Picot secret agreement, whereby France and Britain later divided the post-Ottoman Middle-East into Mandates over what became Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and, of course, Palestine.
"Many view this release in the context of the French-led UNESCO resolution effacing the Jewish identity of its holy sites and an announced Paris conference affecting the security of Israel while excluding the Jewish State".
"The freeing of Diab can only encourage Jihadists to further terrorism in France, believing that they can truly get away with murder." We urge French Justice to return Diab to custody before he can flee the country as a hero to every Islamist".
Paris, 18 May 2016
In a letter to the French Justice Minister, Jean-Jacques Urvoas, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed the Centre's indignant protest regarding the release of accused Copernic Synagogue bomber, Hassan Diab.