New York, NY, July 21, 2004 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called the U.N. General Assembly Resolution on Israel's security fence an outrage and "a new low in the one-sided, hypocritical history of the international body." 
 
Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, National Director, issued the following statement:

We are outraged, but not surprised that once again, the U.N. General Assembly has turned away from the State of Israel's real need to protect its citizens from terrorism.  As in the past, the resolution calling on Israel to abide by the non-binding International Court of Justice decision to remove its security barrier, will do nothing to further peace or reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians.  It will merely reward Palestinian efforts to further politicize and undermine the integrity of the United Nations and legitimizes the use of terrorism. 
 
Those who voted in favor of this resolution ignored the simple fact that if there were no Palestinian terrorism, there would be no need for Israel to build a security fence to prevent suicide bombers from targeting Israeli civilians.  The resolution is particularly ironic that it comes at a time when Israeli plans are underway to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and Israel's Supreme Court has issued a number of decisions that take into account Israeli security needs while limiting Palestinian hardship.  Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority continues to do nothing to stop, much less condemn, Palestinian terrorism. 

We express appreciation to the United States, Australia, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau for voting against the resolution, as well as to the ten nations who abstained.  However, we are distressed by the European Union (EU) support for the resolution, which in its misguided effort to achieve compromise in the wording lent the biased, counterproductive resolution its legitimacy. This makes a mockery of the EU desire to play a more significant role in the process.

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.