Dozens of countries fight anti-Semitism

Nations sign agreement at Foreign Ministry.

By GIL STERN STERN SHEFLER
yellow stars 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
yellow stars 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Organizations representing dozens of countries signed an agreement with Israel Wednesday at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem aimed at fighting anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said the agreement reached with the Task Force for International Cooperation (ITF) on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research, and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights – Holocaust (ODHIR) has brought countries from around the world together to tackle expressions of hatred towards the Jewish people.
During the ceremony marking the signing of the accord, the deputy foreign minister made a reference to Iran, whose President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly denied the Holocaust and said Israel should be “erased from the map.”
“There are those in the world who deny the Holocaust and are planning the next one,” he said. “We must preserve the Holocaust’s memory so that such horrors and hatred shall never repeat themselves, and make the world a better place.”
The ITF is an international task force created by Sweden with 27 member states. Its current president is former Knesset speaker Dan Tichon, in accordance with its rotating presidency policy.
The ODHIR is an NGO concerned with human rights which counts 57 nations as members.