New York, NY, December 28, 2008…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly criticized the U.N. Security Council statement on Israel's retaliatory action against Hamas in Gaza as "sheer hypocrisy" for suggesting an "equivalency" between Hamas' terrorism and Israel's attempts to eliminate that terrorism.

The League added that "the Security Council statement is all the more disturbing in light of the outrageous and all too familiar reflexive anti-Israel response from the U.N. human rights apparatus and the current president of the General Assembly."

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

The Security Council statement is "sheer hypocrisy" for suggesting an "equivalency" between Hamas' terrorism and Israel's attempts to eliminate that terrorism.  It demonstrates that there is no real understanding of the circumstances that led to the action taken by Israel against Hamas in Gaza.

By calling on the parties to immediately stop all military activities, the Security Council disregards the terrorist acts of Hamas against Israel and Hamas' responsibility for the condition of Palestinians in Gaza. Hamas is not engaged in military activities but in outright and self-proclaimed terrorism. The U.N. body also ignores Israel's fundamental right and responsibility to protect its people.

The Security Council statement is all the more disturbing in light of the outrageous and all too familiar reflexive anti-Israel response from the U.N. human rights apparatus and the current president of the General Assembly.  These totally inappropriate reactions included strong condemnations of Israel and time-worn accusations of disproportionality, war crimes and crimes against humanity coming from the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur for human rights in the territories and the General Assembly President while failing to mention Hamas terrorism and its responsibility for putting the people of Gaza directly in harm's way.

The Security Council and UN Human Rights officials should understand that they are encouraging and emboldening Hamas and other Islamic extremists whose ideology seeks to undermine the rule of law and thwart democracy.

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.