NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder on Monday applauded and thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for denouncing anti-Zionism as a ‘renewed form of anti-Semitism’, and for his pledge to ‘never surrender to the messages of hate’.
“At a time of resurging anti-Semitism across Europe, including in France, the World Jewish Congress is encouraged by President Macron’s recognition that anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism are two sides of the same coin,” Lauder said.
“It has become all too normative and acceptable for anti-Semites to hide behind the so-called politically correct curtain of criticizing Israel, and Jewish communities around the world are suffering the effects. Anyone who challenges the Jewish right to self-determination is an anti-Semite, and anyone who believes that it is even remotely acceptable to lash out at Jews amid criticism of the Jewish state is an anti-Semite.
“Thank you, President Macron for your pledge to protect the Jewish community of France against messages of hate. I trust that you will fulfill this commitment to fighting anti-Semitism in both its traditional form and in its new manifestation of anti-Zionism.
“Europe as a whole is contending with the rise of global terror, coupled with a dangerous atmosphere of xenophobia. We must do everything in our power to curb the violence and incitement, and ensure that all communities in Europe, large and small, are able to live under the values of liberty and justice that makes European society so strong,” Lauder concluded.
