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Last update - 14:33 07/02/2009
ADL head decries 'pandemic of anti-Semitism' following Gaza offensive
By Reuters
Tags: Gaza, Jewish World, Hamas 

Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip has unleashed the worst outbreaks of anti-Semitism in decades, the U.S. head of the Anti-Defamation League said on Friday.

"This is the worst, the most intense, the most global that it's been in most of our memories. And the effort to get the good people to stand up is not easy," Abraham Foxman told Jewish community leaders in a speech in this south Florida resort city.

Foxman said Israel's military offensive against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which began in the Gaza Strip in late December, had been answered with hatred and attacks against Jews "from Austria to Zimbabwe."
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Most governments were doing too little to stem "an epidemic, a pandemic of anti-Semitism," he said.

The Israel Defense Forces invaded Gaza in a three-week offensive launched in late December, which was intended to stop Hamas from launching rocket attacks on Israel from the small territory.

Palestinian medical officials said the Israeli offensive killed 1,300 Palestinians, including 700 civilians, prompting widespread international complaints that Israel had used excessive force.

The Anti-Defamation League said recent anti-Jewish attacks triggered by the Gaza conflict ranged from the shooting of two Israelis by a man of Palestinian descent in Denmark to attacks on synagogues in Venezuela, Greece, Chicago and elsewhere.

In Turkey, an Israeli basketball team fled from the court after a crowd turned on them, calling them "killers." In Toulouse, France, last month an attack on one synagogue involved two cars packed with fire bombs.

Foxman said that in protests around the world, the Star of David had been equated with the Nazi swastika and Jewish leaders were threatened. There had also been calls for boycotts of Jewish businesses in South Africa, Italy, Turkey and France.

"We need to insist that the civilized world stand up and say 'No' in every single country in the international arena to condemn this vicious, hideous violence," said Foxman, whose organization is a global leader in the fight against anti-Jewish crime.

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      1.   I`m not surprised 03:32  |  Angel 07/02/09
      2.   Anti-semitism is over, Jews are a nation now. 03:32  |  Matthias Bellen 07/02/09
      3.   Why did Foxman fail to decry antisemitic Dead Sea Scrolls scam? 04:37  |  View from Here 07/02/09
      4.   I agree, Mr. Foxman 04:46  |  David James Vickery 07/02/09
      5.   He is absolutely right! 05:45  |  Rick 07/02/09
      6.   Global Anti-Semitism 06:27  |  E.C. 07/02/09
      7.   Speaking of VICIOUS, HIDEOUS VIOLENCE 06:34  |  Fritz 07/02/09
      8.   There`s also a pandemic of anger at Goliath 07:53  |  newageblues 07/02/09
      9.   as usual; the adl lays blame everywhere "except" at the source 08:23  |  eric 07/02/09
      10.   the devil buried beneath the surface awakens 08:31  |  v hardman 07/02/09
      11.   Give Jews one voice of Peace and Generosity 08:32  |  Jonathan 07/02/09
      12.   Where? 08:45  |  Yosemite 07/02/09
      13.   # 1 Even if the cost is Israel itself? 08:45  |  Kris Lazar 07/02/09
      14.   Why is there anti-semitism? 08:50  |  Ben 07/02/09
      15.   ADL and Foxman just don`t get it! 08:55  |  Samy 07/02/09
      16.   not anti-semitism, anti-israel 08:58  |  Lebrun 07/02/09
      17.   world must condemn this hideous violence 09:35  |  peace 07/02/09
      18.   Who are attacking Jews? 09:47  |  Fernan 07/02/09
      19.   It is sad 09:57  |  Stem Cell 07/02/09
      20.   #7 Fritz 10:20  |  MAX 07/02/09
      21.   @Ben 10:52  |  Stefan Stahl 07/02/09
      22.   Has the audience gotten wise to this act? 11:31  |  Natallie Durson 07/02/09
      23.   #16 Attacks against Jews and synagogues not antisemitism. 11:33  |  Arlette 07/02/09
      24.   AS LONG AS JEWS ARE SEEN TO EQUATE WITH ISRAEL 12:06  |  Moshe 07/02/09
      25.   To vHardman from a Christian 12:16  |  Pat 07/02/09
      26.   who is the enemy? 12:36  |  Sparkles Plenty 07/02/09
      27.   CONDEMNATION? Let`s Start With FOXMAN, ISRAEL & Similar Others!! 12:37  |  Proud Pal Defender 07/02/09
      28.   #15 Sarny, you don`t get it very well I think 12:40  |  Mark B. 07/02/09
      29.   UN and UNWRA did both a great job spreading false info 12:41  |  Daniel 07/02/09
      30.   ADL`s head speech 12:52  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/02/09
      31.   To: Chris Linthwaite 13:30  |  Angel 07/02/09
      32.   Antisemitism due to Israel`s focus on symptoms rather than CAUSE! 13:36  |  Ivar 07/02/09
      33.   Reply to No,. 2 13:38  |  Jackie 07/02/09
      34.   #30 Mr. Christian Lintwat on the ISRAELI ship 15:12  |  Joe Moer 07/02/09
      35.   #34 Joe Moer 15:25  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/02/09
      36.   #31 Angel touch a nerve? 15:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/02/09
      37.   Nr. 2 the best argument of the day 15:51  |  Ardi 07/02/09
      38.   The decline of the ADL 16:55  |  Mark Lincoln 07/02/09
      39.   Seriously? 17:28  |  Don 07/02/09
      40.   To Ben 17:29  |  Proud Jew 07/02/09
      41.   Angel speaking about fraud--here is some of yours. 17:31  |  Pronsias 07/02/09
      42.   Rick #5 18:43  |  joan 07/02/09
      43.   Stem Cell#19 18:52  |  joan 07/02/09
      44.   What did you want? A standing ovation? 19:05  |  Tom 07/02/09
      45.   To al the deniers.....Its heartening...... 19:13  |  Jonathan 07/02/09
      46.   To: Chris Linthwaite 19:46  |  Angel 07/02/09
      47.   Actually Angel... 20:59  |  Michael Hess 07/02/09
      48.   What would you expect? 22:05  |  Fenno-Ugrian 07/02/09
      49.   #43 Angel of New York 22:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/02/09
      50.   #42 Jonathan of London 22:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/02/09
      51.   The ADL should have spent some time chastising... 22:58  |  Maureen Ann 07/02/09
      52.   Foxman 23:36  |  observer 07/02/09
      53.   to those who say whay did you expect, i say the same old anti 23:47  |  Jewish American-USA 07/02/09
      54.   Lebrun 00:16  |  Philippe 08/02/09
      55.   Moshe # 24 00:20  |  Philippe 08/02/09
      56.   Let`s get rid of all religions EXCEPT- - - - - - 01:26  |  Ishmail 08/02/09
      57.   Bit boring 01:58  |  sabbatai zevi 08/02/09
      58.   Racim invites racim & anti-semitism invites anti-semitism 02:14  |  BIG 08/02/09
      59.   314 ben 02:40  |  JOJO 08/02/09
      60.   FENNO U have it backwards 02:49  |  JOJO 08/02/09
      61.   Israel is the home of the Jews 03:09  |  TOMY 08/02/09
      62.   you know Haaretz, i`m amazed at how many of the anti-Israel , 03:09  |  Jewish American 08/02/09
      63.   #2 Matthias Bellen , you would be right if 03:16  |  TOMY 08/02/09
      64.   Anti-semetism 03:23  |  Phyllis 08/02/09
      65.   Israel 05:34  |  Jimbo 08/02/09
      66.   # 43 Jonathan 06:18  |  Nick Ferriman 08/02/09
      67.   #38 Mark Lincoln 07:08  |  Moshe 08/02/09
      68.   Human Rights Equals Anti-Semitism 18:51  |  Jeffrey Levy 08/02/09
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