SWC Condemns Campaign To Cancel Latin American Economic Agreements With Israel

July 21, 2006

AS SOUTH AMERICAN COMMON MARKET CONVENES: SWC CONDEMNS CAMPAIGN BY ANTI-GLOBALIZATION GROUP TO CANCEL LATIN AMERICAN ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS WITH ISRAEL

Buenos Aires

Against the backdrop of Israel's efforts to defeat Hezbollah's attacks, the Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the campaign by the Latin-American anti-globalization group No al ALCA (“No to the Free Trade Area of the Americas"), which, in a declaration issued on July 20, said, “We demand the non ratification –and thus cancellation- of the free trade agreement between the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) and Israel.” The protest was timed to coincide with the MERCOSUR Summit underway in Cordoba, Argentina.

In a letter to the President of the MERCOSUR Committee, Carlos Alvarez, Shimon Samuels (Director for International Relations of the SWC) and Sergio Widder (Latin American Representative), stated that any consideration of canceling or suspending economic agreements with Israel, "... could be interpreted, in current circumstances, as a voice of support to the terrorist organizations or the countries which are behind them and would like that Israel be wiped off the map.”

“The intention to cancel the agreements between MERCOSUR and Israel is an unacceptable call to boycott a democratic country which is legitimally defending its citizens,” they added.

“In a process of furthering international economic integration, there is a will to strengthen peace among peoples. In this spirit, we hope that the MERCOSUR and the State of Israel will strengthen their ties, for the well being of their respective citizens. That is going to be the best answer to those who practice, support or try to legitimize terror,” they concluded.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Wiesenthal Center who just concluded two days of meetings with diplomats at the United Nations added, "Once again we are witness to the spectacle of an NGO (non-governmental organization) unjustly singling out and demonizing the Jewish State for the 'crime' of trying to defend itself and its citizens. We hope that other NGOs will not abuse their position to attack Israel, but instead use their considrable influnce to denounce and isolate terrorist groups and their sponsors."

For further information, please call Sergio Widder at + 5411 4313-4743 ó + 54911 4425-1306.