New York, NY, December 12, 2001 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today commended the European Union for its strong statements calling on Yasir Arafat the Palestinian Authority to dismantle terrorist networks and to make a public appeal for an end to violence against Israel.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We commend the European Union for its strong statements calling on Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat to dismantle the terrorist networks of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and to make a public appeal in Arabic for an end to the armed intifada.

This is an important and welcome statement from the E.U. following the recent wave of suicide bombings in Israel. A sustained effort by the U.S. and the E.U. in this direction offers the best hope to have the Palestinians stop the violence. The Israeli government has made it clear that once violence and terror end, they are eager to return to the negotiating table to work out a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.

We urge the E.U. to continue its pressure on Chairman Arafat to take the necessary steps to curb the violence so that negotiations can resume.

ADL's statement was conveyed to Louis Michel, the Foreign Minister of Belgium, which currently holds the rotating E.U. presidency.

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.