WJC President Lauder welcomes Austria Chancellor Kurz’s firm stance against antisemitism in meeting with Malaysian PM

NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder thanks Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz for his remarks to visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad condemning antisemitism and anti-Israel behavior in Malaysia. The Austrian chancellor told his Malaysian counterpart on Tuesday that any form of antisemitism is “unacceptable” and that Austria remains without a doubt a “friend and partner of Israel.”
 
“Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has proven throughout his tenure, through both words and actions, his commitment to the security and well-being of the Jewish community, as well as his immense support for the State of Israel and its flourishing bilateral relations with the Austrian government,” Lauder said. “Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, on the other hand, has proven the very opposite, trumpeting blatantly antisemitic and unacceptable tropes and stereotypes, in direct contradiction to his country’s own diverse cultural fabric and strong standing within the international community, as well as supporting discriminatory measures directly targeting representatives of the State of Israel, such as the objectionable exclusion of Israeli Paralympic athletes from an upcoming competition to be hosted by Malaysia.”
 
“As I have said before, the WJC is ready to assist Malaysia in engaging in bridge-building between religions and nations, as can already be seen within Malaysian society, and bring this to the international stage,” Lauder said. “I am encouraged by Chancellor Kurz’s diplomatic decision to host his Malaysian counterpart, while firmly standing by the principles of tolerance and friendship that he continues to promote in Austrian society, and I deeply hope that we will see a change for the better in Malaysia’s own approach to these critical values.”