Washington, DC, October 22, 2003 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on Congress to urge European leaders to address head-on the ideology of anti-Semitism that has gripped the Islamic and Arab World and spills over into the streets of Europe.  In testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and author of the new book Never Again? The Threat of the New Anti-Semitism (HarperSanFrancisco, 2003) highlighted the mixed European reaction to the statements of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as "emblematic of one of the most difficult aspects of the new anti-Semitism in Europe.  It reverberates from the Middle East and – absent clear condemnation and prevention – has too often translated into acts of violence, and even murder of Jews in Europe and elsewhere."

Mr. Foxman applauded the swift condemnations of Congress and of the President and said that getting world leaders to stand up against such anti-Semitism will depend on steadfast U.S. leadership.  "Members of Congress" Mr. Foxman noted, "are uniquely positioned to exert such leadership and to build among our allies in Europe a coalition of those willing to stand up.  The US must  recognize constructive and courageous leadership as well as hold accountable those nations and leaders who fail to step up to the plate.

ADL presented a series of action recommendations for Congress including:

·         Use the bully pulpit to urge European nations to condemn Arab and Islamic anti-Semitism and to play a more balanced role in international organizations plagued by anti-Israel bias;

• Urge nations to enhance monitoring efforts and hate crime data collection mechanisms;
  
• Urge Parliaments and Education Ministries to implement anti-bias education and Holocaust education;
  
• Seek the establishment of law enforcement training in hate crimes response, as well as anti-bias training to build cooperation and trust with diverse communities;
  
• Mobilize religious leaders to speak out.

Mr. Foxman urged Senators to utilize their bilateral contacts and involvement in international forums "to build an alliance of values – one country at a time, one minister at a time, one parliamentarian at a time – to sensitize our allies so that, years from now, when the Mahathirs arise, and they surely will, they will face wall-to-wall international condemnation."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.