The Simon Wiesenthal Center applauded President Obama's strong commitment to Israel and his condemnation of Iran in his speech at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Wiesenthal Center also praised the President’s new initiiatives against mass atrocities and genocide. Mark Weitzman, the SWC's Director of Government Relations, who participated in the day's events said, "President Obama's commitment to making his promise of "Never Again" to the survivors of the Shoah a reality was clearly demonstrated today.

By beginning the day at the Holocaust Museum, where he reiterated that the US will stand with Israel, and where he strongly condemned Iran's evil regime, and then by announcing new and practical steps to combat genocide and mass atrocities on a global scale, he has made the rhetoric of "Never Again" a reality for all people. The President's assertion that atrocity prevention is now a "core goal" of American foreign policy is one that we applaud, and we offer our total cooperation to this effort."

Weitzman added, "One of the atrocities and genocides the Atrocity Prevention Board should take immediate action on is the threats faced by Israel from nations and groups that call for its total destruction.”

Finally, in reacting to the remark by a senior Administration official at the afternoon White House conference who said that from now on US diplomats "would be the eyes, ears and conscience of the US Government abroad," Weitzman said, "We hope that this new official US activism, which stands in stark contrast to the inaction of the US Government during the Holocaust, will not only effect US efforts, but will spur other countries to join in an international campaign against mass atrocities and genocide, wherever and whenever it looms."

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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).