New York, NY, November 5, 2009 … The head of the United Nations challenged the world's nations to take up the myriad issues on the international agenda, including nuclear proliferation, the Iranian threat, terrorism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in an address to the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Annual Meeting.

"In this dangerous world, we must stand together, we must be united. United in purpose, united in action," said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in an address to ADL leaders.  "People want results. They look to the United Nations to bridge the gaps that trouble our world, the gap between rich and poor, the gap between those getting ahead and those being left behind; most of all, the gap between promises and progress."

The League's 2009 Annual Meeting, held Oct. 29-31, brought ADL leaders from across the country to New York City, where they heard from Mr. Ban and an array of other speakers and experts discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iranian nuclear threat and anti-Semitism in the United States and abroad.

During the meeting Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, was formally recognized for his three years of service in the top leadership position in the organization.  At the conclusion of the proceedings the leadership gavel was officially passed to the League's new National Chair, Robert G. Sugarman.

Anti-Semitism

ADL released a major new survey of anti-Semitism in the United States.  The poll found that 12 percent of Americans hold anti-Semitic views, a decline from 15 percent in 2007 and matching the lowest figure ever recorded by ADL.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said that while the decline was encouraging, the continuing manifestations of anti-Semitism – from right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists, Holocaust deniers and homegrown Muslim extremists – continue to be cause for concern.

"The country is politically polarized right now, and ADL has documented a clear undercurrent of anti-government anger," Mr. Foxman said.  "It is precisely at such volatile times when we must be at our most vigilant, because the anti-Semitism is not far from the surface."

Among other experts discussing anti-Semitism were Ambassador Ron Prosor, Israel's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, who gave an update on anti-Semitism in the U.K. and Europe; and John Marttila of Marttila Communications Group, who presented the findings of the ADL survey on anti-Semitism in America.

Israel, the Peace Process, and Iran

ADL's leaders were briefed by several experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and concerns about the growing threat of a nuclear Iran.  In his keynote address, Mr. Foxman discussed the myriad efforts around the world to delegitimize Israel, from the conclusions of the Goldstone Report at the United Nations, to boycott efforts in several European countries and false rumors that circulated around the world alleging that Israeli soldiers engaged in organ harvesting.

Mr. Foxman read from the text of an open letter to Richard Goldstone, calling on the South African jurist to repudiate the report.  Ambassador Asaf Shariv, Israel's Consul General in New York, offered an assessment of the current challenges, opportunities and prospects for peace with the Palestinians; and Kenneth M. Pollack, Director of the Saban Center for Middle East Studies, discussed the many steps that the international community might take to confront a nuclear Iran, in light of the latest signs that the Iranian regime was rebuffing American and European efforts to resolve the stalemate through diplomacy.

Hate Crime Laws: Celebrating a Victory

New York Gov. David A. Paterson praised the ADL's efforts to fight for hate crimes legislation and the state and national levels.  The governor noted that New York State recorded 596 hate crimes last year alone, and that several high profile hate crimes against immigrants and others in 2009 showed the vital need for strong penalties for those who commit crimes based on an individual's race, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation.

"We have found that the issue of hate crimes still combats us, even though we fought and were able to pass legislation in the last 10 years to enable New Yorkers to be protected under the law," said Gov. Paterson.  "The reality is that our Hate Crimes Task Force sees that many of these crimes are committed by young people, so we've got to get your tolerance programs into our kindergartens, our elementary schools and our high schools and our boardrooms to try and thwart these unfortunate crimes."

U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-Manhattan, said the enactment of the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (HCPA), a comprehensive federal hate crime law signed into law days earlier by President Barack Obama, "sends a powerful message… that we will not tolerate that victimization in violent crimes."  He also emphasized the importance of education in combating hate-motivated violence, saying that, "It is not enough to punish intolerance, but we must raise a generation that knows better."

Irish Tenor Becomes "Foot Soldier" in ADL's Mission

Acclaimed Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan vowed to devote "my heart, my mind, my voice" to the League's mission of combating anti-Semitism and discrimination.  Dr. Tynan expressed regret for an incident weeks earlier in which he uttered an anti-Semitic remark to a real-estate agent. 

"On this night in which we salute your commitment to eradicating hate and fostering hope, I simply ask to be allowed to join your humble ranks, with a contrite and a firm resolution, to be a foot soldier in your mission to remind us that we can never forget or allow the stain of anti-Semitism or discrimination in any form," he said in his remarks, before rising to sing his rendition of the Irving Berlin classic, "God Bless America."

Honors and Commendations

The following awards and commendations were presented during ADL's 2009 Annual Meeting in New York City:

• The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York were honored for their efforts to bring a notorious terrorist to justice.  Each received the ADL Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation Award for the successful undercover operation that netted Monzer al-Kassar, a notorious arms dealer and the terrorist who supplied weapons to the hijackers of the Achille Lauro.
   
• Octogenarian journalist, author, columnist and First Amendment advocate Nat Hentoff was presented with the ADL Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize, in recognition of his longstanding commitment to defending the ideals embodied in the First Amendment.
   
• Polish businessman Aleksander Gudzowaty was recognized for his outstanding leadership in promoting tolerance and respect.  In 2006, Mr. Gudzowaty conceived and constructed the Tolerance Monument and Park on a hill in Jerusalem.  The monument is a beacon of respect visible to the people of many faiths that visit the holy city.
   
• Melvin Salberg, a member of the League's National Executive Committee and former ADL National Chairman, received the inaugural Barbara B. Balser ADL Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his four decades of service to ADL and the Jewish community.           

Resolutions

The following resolutions were unanimously adopted by the ADL National Commission:

• Resolution on the Goldstone Report and International Criticism of Israel's Gaza Operation 

ADL reaffirmed its support for the State of Israel's right to defend its population, such as was the case in Operation Cast Lead.  The League called on the United States and the international community to reject the findings of the Goldstone Report and to prevent its consideration in the United Nations Security Council, General Assembly or International Criminal Court.  (Full text)

• Resolution on the International Community and Iran's Development of Nuclear Weapons 

ADL called upon responsible states of the international community, collectively and individually, to prepare to use all available diplomatic, economic and financial tools to pressure Iran to verifiably end its nuclear weapons program in case that result is not achieved by the current negotiations.  Such tools include effective economic sanctions that target Iran's oil exports, gasoline imports and its financial sector.  Should non-military measures fail to convince Iran to decide to verifiably end its nuclear weapons program, military options should remain under consideration by responsible states. (Full text)