Last update - 00:00 26/06/2007
Putin ally elected new president of European Jewish Congress
By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent
Moshe Kantor became the new president of the European Jewish Congress General Assembly on Tuesday, beating incumbent Pierre Besnainou by 55 votes to 30. There were two abstentions.
Votes were cast by 87 delegates from 40 European Jewish communities.
Kantor, the Chairman of the European Jewish Fund and president of the Russian Jewish Congress, told the assembly he was a "true believer in European Jewry" and evaluated that European Jews were strong enough to address the many challenges he said they are facing: anti-Semitism, assimilation and dangers Israel is facing: the Iranian nuclear threat and terror.
"I will never compromise with the security of Jews in Europe and with the security of Israel," declared Moshe Kantor.
Kantor, known to be an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was elected at the EJC meeting in Brussels.
World Jewish Congress (WJC) newly elected president Ronald S. Lauder attended the general assembly with Matthew Bronfman, Chairman of the WJC Governing Board, and stressed the importance of the EJC.
"It is essential that the Jewish people remain united in a period where anti-Semitism is on the rise, a period where Israel is under siege by Hamas and Hezbollah, a period where the Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas which is encouraged by Iran," said Lauder.
Lauder stressed the importance of education and the need to strengthen inter-religious meetings.
The WJC President revealed that he has received a letter from Moroccan King Abdullah calling for strengthened ties between Jews and Muslims.