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	European Delegation to WJC Governing Board

The annual European Jewish Congress dinner brought together 130 members of the European Parliament from all major parties with Jewish community leaders from across Europe. Guests of honor included Shimon Peres and the European Union Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Peres urged the assembled members of parliament to act against Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s threats. “President Ahmadinejad brings shame on the Iranian people,” Peres stated, adding, “Europe must act in coordination with the United States to politically, not physically, pressure his government.”

EJC President Pierre Besnainou condemned Ahmadinejad’s call for Israel’s destruction, while at the same time saying, “European Union states can use their close relations with Arab states to urge them to normalize relations with Israel, a vital contribution that will make a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians viable,” Besnainou said.

Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner strongly denounced the Iranian President’s threats to Israel and denial of the Holocaust as “irresponsible and indefensible,” and expressed her hopes that Israel and Europe can work together towards peace. “Israel and Europe are natural partners,” she stated.

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European Commission

An EJC delegation led by President Pierre Besnainou met in Brussels with the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, and called on the Commission to encourage moderate Islamic and Arab countries to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel. The delegation presented President Barroso with the EJC’s plan of action for contributing to European-Israeli relations and combating anti-Semitism in Europe. President Besnainou voiced his support for the standardization of laws against hate crimes, incitement to hate, violence, racism and xenophobia in all EU member states.

The EJC has been actively campaigning for the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab and Muslim states, having raised the issue in meetings with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Javier Solana, the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union.

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	Pierre Besnainou, Mahmoud Abbas

Visit to Tunisia

In Tunisia for the World Summit on the Information Society, prior to the election of Hamas to lead the Palestinian Authority, EJC President Pierre Besnainou met with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in the presence of then Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Shaath, to discuss Palestinian commitments to continue paving the way for peace talks with Israeli authorities.

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Greece

While in Athens for Holocaust commemoration ceremonies, an EJC delegation held meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, President Károlos Papoúlias and Opposition Leader Giorgos Papandreou. The delegation held talks on strengthening Israel-Greece relations; anti-Semitism in Greece; and the return of Jewish property from the Thessaloniki’s former Jewish cemetery.

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European Jewish Congress Regional Delegates Meeting at WJC Governing Board

Blocking Hamas

The EJC has made political interventions to block visas for Hamas Representatives throughout Europe. The EJC has addressed letters to the Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly Rene van der Liden as well as other officials to block Hamas officials from European territory. Romania The EJC met with the Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu to voice support for Romania’s entry into the European Union following Romania’s important strides taken in combating anti-Semitism and supporting fair compensation and restitution for Holocaust survivors. The EJC also commended the Prime Minister for his commitment to approach local authorities to ensure special maintenance of the numerous Jewish cemeteries around the country.

Prime Minister Popescu-Tariceanu and Foreign Minister Ungureanu both strongly condemned Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s anti-Semitic statements and his repeated calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. They also expressed solidarity with EU suspension of all dialogue with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority until the group renounces terrorism and recognize the State of Israel’s right to exist.

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Russian Jewish Congress

The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, met with Moshe Kantor, the President of the Russian Jewish Congress and Chairman of the EJC Board of Governors , to discuss preparations for the Second World Holocaust Forum in Kiev scheduled for September 2006. The first Holocaust Forum was held in Krakow for the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

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Ukraine

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, and a longstanding Vice Chairman of the EJC, was honored in May by the Council of Yeshivot of Stolin and the Elders of Jewish Torah Sages for his work in the Jewish community of Ukraine. Bleich has developed a vast Jewish educational and welfare network in Ukraine.

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