Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., December 05, 2008 Kislev 8, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:21 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Scandinavians rebut anti-Semitic charges By Cnaan Liphshiz Scandinavian journalists didn't let Israeli scholars get away unanswered with accusing their countries and media of anti-Semitism and Israel-hatred at a Jerusalem symposium Tuesday on the Nordic nations' attitude to Jews and Zionism. By closing Gaza to reporters when international organizations speak of a humanitarian crisis there, Israel was "inevitably rendering itself suspect to human rights violations" and "inviting hostile treatment," said one Danish reporter. Advertisement The five journalists attending the event hosted by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs took the stead of the Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Danish ambassadors, who all declined their invitations. The anti-Scandinavian content reverberated abroad. "It's a traditional deflection tactic aimed at diverting attention from the real problem, which is Israel's abuse of Palestinians," Kare Willoch, who presided as Norway's prime minister in the 1980s, told the Norwegian daily Dagsavisen. The 50-odd listeners, mostly veteran immigrants from Western Europe in their 60s and 70s, received each statement by the foreign guests with disapproving mumbles. The English-language event opened with Zvi Mazel, a former ambassador to Sweden who spoke of a "deep-rooted" anti-Semitism in Sweden. Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the U.S.-born director of the Wiesenthal Center in Israel - which cosponsored the forum - spoke of Norway and Sweden's failure to prosecute Nazi war criminals. The third speaker, Manfred Gerstenfeld, a Dutch-born JCPA researcher and media analyst, displayed cartoons from mainstream Norwegian press, portraying Ehud Olmert as a Nazi guard at a death camp, and of an ultra-Orthodox Jew engraving "thou shall murder" into an alternative Decalogue. Louise Stigsgaard Nissen, Middle East Bureau chief for the Danish daily Berlingske Tidende, first inquired, "Why can't one criticize Israel as one criticizes the U.S. without being called an anti-Semite?" Zuroff insisted Israelis usually do accept harsh criticism when anti-Semitism is not suspected. Gerstenfeld replied, "One cannot criticize Israel for things other countries also do while refraining from criticizing those countries." At a certain point, the guests began to argue aloud with the Scandinavians - who argued right back. "It's good to see some action around here," one JCPA regular said. "Usually these lectures end with a few approving nods and calls of hear, hear." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Settler rampage Video shows settler shooting Palestinian in the stomach from point-blank range. Living side by side An historic Chicago synagogue neighbors Barack Obama's house.

Read & React Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade Responses: 130 Settlers rampage in Palestinian areas after Hebron eviction Responses: 162 Editorial: Jewish terrorists are holding hostage Israel's future Responses: 50 Ari Shavit: Pakistan is as dangerous as Iran Responses: 28 Shlomo Avineri: The State of Israel as the kingdom of evil Responses: 16 More Headlines 02:03 Israel braces for settler violence following Hebron evacuation 01:59 ANALYSIS / No other word than 'pogrom' for settler acts in Hebron 23:27 Abbas aide: Settler attacks could scupper peace process 02:05 Obama's Palestinian friend 17:39 State Prosecutor closes Bank Leumi probe against Olmert 16:05 Report: Syria won't renew peace talks until Israel clarifies Golan plans 07:50 At synagogue overlooking Obama's house, blacks and Jews live side by side 22:55 High voter turnout for Labor's second primary this week 22:11 Top rightist MKs won`t head new national-religious party Habayit Hayehudi 20:36 Mumbai Jewish community on edge after attacks in India 17:28 WATCH: Will Bar Refaeli be the next James Bond girl? 19:39 Ex-N.Y. Governor Eliot Spitzer debuts as columnist for online magazine 'Slate' 21:32 UN forum: Israel systematically violating Palestinian human rights 21:23 IN PICTURES / The evacuation of 'House of Contention' in Hebron 00:22 Gilad Shalit's parents reportedly contact PIs to acquire information Previous Editions Select Day 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov

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