Wiesenthal Center Praises Canadian PM for Stance with Israel against “Resurgent” Anti-Semitism

November 9, 2010

“His leadership in deed and word has emerged as the model for what will be needed to defeat history's oldest hatred,” says Center official

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today praised Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for pledging his country’s unwavering support for Israel in the face of resurgent anti-Semitism, even at the expense of its diplomatic reputation and a potential seat at the UN Security Council. Speaking in Ottawa at the second annual Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism, Harper said, “As long as I am prime minister, whether it is at the UN or the Francophonie or anywhere, Canada will take that stand.”

“Israel, the Jewish people and all those fighting the scourge of anti-Semitism have no greater ally and friend than PM Harper,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center, from the Ottawa conference, which is being attended by over 200 delegates including parliamentarians, law enforcement officials and human rights activists from every continent. “His leadership in deed and word has emerged as the model for what will be needed to defeat history's oldest hatred,” he added. Rabbi Cooper is one of the international experts at the two day international conference and is heading the Jewish human rights NGO's delegation, which includes Dr. Shimon Samuels, the Center’s Director for International Relations; Sergio Widder, the Center’s Latin American Representative; and Avi Benlolo President and CEO of the Toronto-based Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

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).

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