New York, NY, December 19, 2003 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today commended European Union member nations for their strong opposition to the most recent Palestinian effort to challenge Israel's credentials at the United Nations.

Earlier this week, the Palestinian delegation at the U.N. distributed a draft resolution declaring that "the Observer delegation of Palestine to the General Assembly represents the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and that the credentials of the delegation of Israel do not cover that territory."  European nations vehemently opposed the resolution as an attempt to undermine Israel's legitimacy, thereby forcing the Palestinians to withdraw the resolution.

"We are heartened by the European Union's principled stand against this latest attempt by the Palestinians to demonize and delegitimize Israel," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "The European approach to this particular effort represents a refreshing and important change to the status quo, for in the past the Europeans have sought to compromise on such matters, leading to the adoption of a watered-down but still anti-Israel resolution.

"We hope that this is the beginning of a more concerted international effort to withstand the Palestinian delegation's torturous abuse of U.N. procedures to promote their one-sided view of the conflict."

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.