News Releases 2015
“Appeal to World Health Organisation Director-General: 'Alert French Delegation to violation of WHO Constitution Articles 67 and 68 and a crude politicization of medicine'.”
Paris, 1 October 2015
In a letter to Paris Mayor, Anne Hidalgo, Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed shock at “the reported distribution to primary schools – by the Paris Municipality – of a diary produced by the French League Against Cancer, that wipes Israel off the map replacing it with 'Palestine'.”
Samuels noted that “the Centre is calling on its members and friends to withdraw support from the French League Against Cancer and its patrons, as also for Israeli cutting-edge cancer research projects to consider appropriate measures regarding further cooperation.”
The Centre urged the Mayor to “take steps to recall these scurrilous 'diaries', identify and dismiss the antisemite responsible for this geographical revisionism and publicly condemn this travesty.”
Samuels, likewise, wrote to Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), arguing that “this deletion of the State of Israel – a member of the United Nations and the WHO – by a French medical organization, arguably, impugns Articles 67 and 68 of the WHO Constitution on 'the privileges and immunities of Member States and a crude politicization of medicine'.”
“We urge you to alert the French delegation to the WHO to the serious nature of this violation, concluded Samuels.
The letters were also shared with the Israel Cancer Association.
“There is still the skeleton in the cupboard – increasing Iranian penetration and sponsorship of Hezbollah sleepers and Jihadist recruitment across the region.”
Buenos Aires, 22 September 2015
Following the 9 August primaries, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, and Latin American Representative Dr. Ariel Gelblung, addressed four questions to the six remaining Argentine Presidential candidates.
The Left Front outsider declined to comment. The written responses of the five remaining hopefuls were summarized in the Sunday edition of La Nacion on 20 September. (see: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1829593-los-candidatos-fijaron-sus-politicas-ante-iran-y-el-caso-amia)
Read more: Wiesenthal Centre Polls Argentine Presidential...
Blog by Dr. Shimon Samuels published in The Jerusalem Post
20 September 2015
https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Saeb-Erekat-Between-policy-and-fantasy-416630
Mutual loathing is equally served by competitive squabbles for brownie points in raising the bar of anti-Israeli discourse and violence.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat (left) waits for a foreign visitor at the Palestinian
presidential offices in Ramallah last year (photo Reuters).
Last week, the Palestinian National Council (PNC) was due to meet after a very long hiatus. Once again, it has been postponed indefinitely.
"Luxembourg banks would not accept such 'annoyance' at any price."
"'Income not worth the annoyance' can rapidly become, 'no income at all'."
Paris, 2 September 2015
In a letter to Luxembourg Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed “our Luxembourg members' concern at the submission by Cactus Supermarkets to violence and threats of the so-called pro-Palestinian B.D.S. (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) anti-Israel lobby in your country.”
Read more: Wiesenthal Centre to Luxembourg Prime Minister:...
Paris, 20 August 2015
Director-General, Irina Bokova, responded to Dr. Samuels: “... in the fight against discrimination, hatred and racism of all forms, including antisemitism […] UNESCO and the Simon Wiesenthal Centre has moved forward together, joining forces...” “On this basis, the UNESCO Secretariat has written to the authorities in Spain for them to look into the case and to ensure the dissociation of UNESCO from this Festival, including through the use of the Organization's logo.”
Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed satisfaction that “its appeal to UNESCO, and the consequent countermeasures, inspired the Spanish authorities and the Festival organizers to apologize and reinstate Matisyahu to the original programme, proving that BDS can be beaten.”
See below the Centre's call to UNESCO: