|
SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE - EUROPE
Tel. +33-147237637 - Fax: +33-147208401
E-mail: csweurope@gmail.com
While publically creating the image of boycott, Herpa happily sells El Al miniatures through a backlink. Its magazine, Wingsworld even ties in 9/11.
See related story in The Algemeiner
Paris, 20 October 2014
In a letter to H.H. Andreas, 8th Prince of Leiningen, owner of Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH, Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels slammed his company and the magazine Wingsworld for the image of boycott while maligning El Al. See[www.herpa.de]
Samuels noted in the Wingsworld's current edition a lead story that goes far beyond aviation, which claims “the conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians, who have been experiencing the Jewish settlement of Palestine backed by US patronage of Zionism to this day, is a violent illegal occupation and exaction, increased significantly.”
The letter also cited how the author addresses "the outlawed terrorist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine aircraft hijackings, concluding 'The terror of the PFLP and many other organizations did not remain restricted to El Al, and has its bitter climax in the events of 9/11.'”
Samuels argued that "the linking of Jews and Israel to United States patronage and, ambiguously, to conspiracy theories around the Twin Towers atrocity is classical anti-Semitism as defined in the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE), Berlin Declaration of 2004," adding his intention "to personally raise the case of Herpa in Berlin at the tenth anniversary of that Declaration next month, for this article shows how far Jew-hatred can be taken."
The letter expressed surprise at "the absence of 'El Al' from the 'label' list on Herpa’s website between position 36 for DHL and 37 for Emirates," continuing, "Yet, at number 51 we find 'Israel Defense Force'. Nor is El Al on the drop down advanced list of labels.
It may therefore be construed that Herpa - while publically maintaining an image of boycott - is quite happy to sell Israel's civil aircraft models, hidden under its backlink 'Product Search,' while maligning the airline of the Jewish State for its Wingsworld magazine subscribers, many of whom are children."
"As a nobleman descended from a long Teutonic line, we hope you will agree that Germany is the last place for any such form of anti-Semitism."
"Prince Andreas, we call on you to launch an investigation into this Herpa and Wingsworld behavior, to fire those responsible and to apologize forthwith for this offence to the Jewish people, whether in Germany, Israel or around the world," concluded Samuels.
The letter was shared with Werner Kuhn, General Manager of Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH.
For further information please contact Shimon Samuels (+33) 60-97-70-158, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter feed.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).
|
