New York, NY, May 21, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on the U.S. government to publicly speak out against recent provocative actions by the Palestinian Authority (PA) aimed at demonizing and undermining the State of Israel.

"We call on the United States to publicly condemn recent provocative actions by the Palestinian Authority which serve to incite and demonize the State of Israel," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "The deliberate Palestinian strategy contradicts the spirit of the proximity talks, violates previous Israel-Palestinian agreements and creates impediments to achieving progress toward Israel's stated goal of reaching a negotiated resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians."

On May 19, Fatah official Nabil Shaath announced the intensification of an economic and diplomatic "intifada" against Israel.  The announcement came just one day after a PA order to boycott all products produced in Israeli settlements.

In addition, while the PA was reluctantly agreeing to participate in proximity talks, it was simultaneously lobbying OECD member countries to reject Israeli membership.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, ADL noted that following the first round of proximity talks, the State Department unequivocally expressed that "if either [party] takes significant actions during the proximity talks that seriously undermine trust, we will respond to hold them accountable and ensure that negotiations continue."

"These recent acts by the PA can only be expected to have a deleterious effect on the atmosphere of trust which Senator (George) Mitchell is working hard to maintain and enhance," the letter stated.

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.