New York, N.Y., July 22, 2003 … Calling the latest anti-Semitic diatribe to appear in the Saudi Arabian press "shocking and horrifying," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today asked the Saudi government to publicly reject and condemn anti-Semitism as part of its continued effort to demonstrate tolerance and moderation.
On July 21, the online edition of The Arab News, Saudi Arabia's largest English-language daily newspaper, printed "Israel, We Bless Thee," a hate-filled, conspiracy-laden diatribe that blames Israel for a long list of events, most recently the September 11 terrorist attack, the 2001 Anthrax mailings and the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
In a letter to Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said:
We hope that as part of the Government of Saudi Arabia's efforts to demonstrate tolerance and moderation, you will publicly reject and condemn Mark Glenn's anti-Semitic diatribe "Israel, We Bless Thee," which was recently published in the Arab News.
Given your country's recent efforts, we were all the more shocked and horrified by this hate-filled, conspiracy-laden diatribe, which blames Israel for every single ill or scandal that has afflicted America, from Monica Lewinsky through the September 11 terror attacks and the 2001 Anthrax mailings. As Mr. Glenn summarizes:
"And finally, for using your influence in our media and academia to flood our minds with pornography and lies, as well as inculcating in us a hatred for our history, religion, and culture, for dividing our nation between races and sexes, and for releasing into our society all of your plagues and filth that have left us a rotted out corpse of a once great nation, oh Israel, our friend, we bless thee."
Clearly, reputable newspapers feel a right and obligation to educate their readers on different sides of complex political and social issues. However, this fanatical invective of hatred is far from an acceptable expression of a different perspective or view. In publishing this article, the Saudi Arabia's major English language daily legitimizes these heinous anti-Semitic expressions.
