Lauder: ‘If all Jews left Europe tomorrow, it would be sad for the Jews, but a disaster for Europe’
Sun, 19 Jun 2016
The president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Sunday warned of a growing tide of hatred and terror targeted against Jews and others, including in Britain.
Ronald S. Lauder told an event of the Board of Deputies of British Jews in London: “There is a deep and well-founded concern over statements by leaders of the Labour Party. The anti-Zionism and BDS movement on various campuses is more active here than in most other countries. Earlier this year, the School of Oriental and African Studies at London University voted to boycott Israel, and this was sanctioned by the university. Would London University, or any other school, tolerate the same sanctions against blacks, Muslims, or gay people?
“If it's not ok to sanction these groups, why is it ok to sanction Israel? Why is it ok to sanction Jews? Because make no mistake, these people are not just sanctioning a country, they are sanctioning a people. And that is not alright.” Lauder commended the Board of Deputies for challenging anti-Semitism in what he called “pockets of mainstream politics.” 
Referring to growing concerns about the future of European Jewry, the WJC president said: “Some have suggested that all the Jews should leave Europe for Israel. Let me make one thing clear. If all the Jews left Europe tomorrow, this would be sad for the Jews, but it would be a disaster for Europe.”
In his address, Lauder also paid tribute to the recent victims of terrorism. He said: “All of Great Britain is in shock over the assassination of a member of Parliament, Jo Cox, a mother of two with a brilliant future in front of her. The perpetrator seems to have ties to the far right.
“And I come from a country also in mourning over the deaths of 49, and more than 50 critically injured, innocent human beings in Orlando, Florida by a radical Islamic terrorist.
“In Israel, the most recent attack took the lives of four victims who were simply having dinner at a popular restaurant in Tel Aviv. What do these tragic events have in common? Terror. Intolerance. And Hate. Three things that Jews have known all too well throughout time.”
We welcome any comments you may have on this article. Comments are moderated and we reserve the right to edit or remove any which are derogatory or offensive. The WJC is not responsible for the content of any comments.
Subscribe to our newsletter
My journey to the past: A reflection on Zaglembie Ghettos by WJC General Counsel Menachem Rosensaft
Sons and daughters of survivors, looking for a sense of closure in Poland
World Jewish Congress to co-host international conference on Yiddish culture and language
The conference, which runs 5-12 August 2018, will feature enlightening conversations and presentation by renowned scholars and researchers from all over the world, who will present their lectures and papers in Yiddish, English, Ukrainian and Russian.
WJC President Lauder condemns ‘despicable and deliberate’ anti-Semitic vandalism of Elie Wiesel house, calls for swift investigation and penalty
“This callous act was an attack against the very principles of morality and humanity for which Wiesel stood,” Lauder says.
WJC, LAJC delegation visit Guatemala City: “Guatemala is among the strongest and most devoted friends of Jews and Israel in the world”
"The warmth toward the Jewish community and the strong bilateral ties with Israel will continue to yield mutually beneficial results for both of our peoples,” says WJC CEO Robert Singer.
Remembering My Father in Auschwitz: An article by WJC General Counsel Menachem Rosensaft
Nothing about the Shoah was logical or made sense. Our task, our mission, today and always, is not to try to understand, but to remember.
Following Outrage, Netflix Nixes Plan to Air Laudatory Louis Farrakhan Documentary
Betty Ehrenberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress — North America, said of the film, “At a time when Netflix has announced that it plans to bring more faith and family-based shows to its subscribers, its choice of offering a film on the life of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is deeply dismaying.”
Lawfare Project, World Jewish Congress urge Stanford to effectively address threat of violence against Jewish students
Last week, an incoming Residential Assistant and former student government member at Stanford University, Hamzeh Daoud, wrote that he would "physically fight Zionists on campus next year […] after I abolish your ass I’ll go ahead and work every day for the rest of my life to abolish [Israel]."
WJC intern Adela Coab Moadeb named one of NY Jewish Week's 36 under 36
“Zionism is an ideology, not a political position or policy No one should ever have to apologize for thinking the Jewish people have a right to a Jewish state.”
Bruce Josephy
Mon, 20 Jun 2016Yasher koach, Ronald. Thank you for all you do for the Jewish people.
basha kline
Mon, 20 Jun 2016It wasn't long ago that Spain was asking for Jews to return, they need the financial input that Jews gave them in the first place, then the inquisition killed and tortured many Jews and those who left, also left Spain in debt, for the longest time - this situation happened also in England, it was Cromwell who brought back the Jews, purely for financial reasons as England could only offer warmongering tribes who had no business accumen...So, let Europe lie fallow once again, especially France who is ousting their Jews in preference to allowing sharia law...