The Chairman of the Governing Board of the WJC, Israel Singer, has strongly condemned recent comments by the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, questioning the Holocaust and calling for the state of Israel to be moved to Europe.
In an interview in the German newspaper "Der Tagesspiegel" published on 10 December 2005, Singer spoke of his shock at the comments and called for the European Union to take a stronger stance against Iran.
The text of the interview follows:
The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, yesterday denied that there was the Holocaust. He said, that he cannot accept, that people maintain, that Adolf Hitler killed millions of Jews. He also suggested, that the state of Israel should be transferred to Europe. What is your reaction?
I'm alarmed. It's shocking to hear the elected president of a large country saying disgusting things like that. And it is quite clear that Ahmadinejad not only believes in what he says, but that he wants to whip up sentiments in the Arab world - against Israel, against Jews, against the entire civilized world. The moderate leaders in the Arab world, in particular the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, should immediately condemn what Ahmadinejad has said. That's the least people can expect from them!
How should Europe react?
Two things: One, there needs to be a direct, unequivocal and strong reaction from the EU. The Iranian leader has again crossed a red line. He wants Israel wiped off the map, he denies the Shoah, he says things only terrorists dare to say. Two, the EU now must become tougher with Iran. It frightens me to think that a government led by such a guy could soon be in possession of nuclear weapons and create chaos in the Middle East. The EU, but also the United Nations, has a special responsiblity to prevent this from happening. Governments must isolate this president wherever they can. Appeasement won't work.
Would cutting the foreign aid or an economic boycott an appropriate reaction?
I am not a friend of cutting aid, because decent and ordinary people will suffer from it. Remember the earthquake that devasted south eastern Iran two years ago when hundreds of thousands of people badly needed foreign aid. But the Iranians must see that what they president says is not tolerable. Intelligent people in the Arab world should come out against Ahmadinejad. The Islamic countries must speak out against him. I want to hear the leaders of countries such as Egypt, Syria and others to come out against the Iranian president unequivocally, and publicly! This will show if they are real political leaders.
How should Germany react?
Germany should not tolerate any of this behavior. Showing outrage, although necessary, is not sufficient. Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Steinmeier know how to deal with this matter in an appropriate manner, and I think they have made this clear already.
Do you think Germany can play a special role in bringing forward the dialogue between Israel and its neighbours and between the Jews and the Muslims in general?
Yes, Germany could be pivotal. The statement of the Iranian president shows that there is a need for engaging in dialogue with Muslims - the majority of whom are moderate and reasonable people. In the coming months, the World Jewish Congress will take a lead on this matter. We have asked the German government to support our efforts in bringing together leaders of different cultural and religious backgrounds, to sit down together and discuss common initiatives. We need the dialogue so that insane people like Ahmadinejad will be isolated and become a small, powerless minority in the Arab world. Then, people will stop listening to him and other agitators.
Read about the WJC's compaign for international condemnation of President Ahmadinejad
