(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)
Seventy years after the victory over Nazi Germany, we are unfortunately witnessing the renewed growth of antisemitism and of voices denying the Holocaust and distorting its memory. When we examine the figures, we find that the past year marked an apogee in manifestations of antisemitism, most notably in West European and on the Internet.
Thus, 70 years after the Holocaust, many Jews in Europe again feel insecure in the face of growing attacks against them and antisemitic terror attacks by radical Islam which claimed the lives of nine victims in one year.
Against this background, the
5th Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism, which will convene from May 12-14, 2015 in Jerusalem, takes on special importance in formulating action plans to combat antisemitism and to shape international policy to cope with the growing problem.
Some 1,000 experts from around the world will take part in the conference - the largest of its kind in the world - including the Justice Ministers of Germany and Romania, the Education Minister of Bulgaria, the Mayor of Paris, and the Minister of State for Multiculturalism from Canada. Israeli participants will include the Prime Minister, the President of the Supreme Court, the Speaker of the Knesset, the Foreign Minister, and the Minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs. Other participants from around the world include members of parliament, government officials, representatives of civil society, jurists and academics, as well as the Hollywood producer and actor, Edward James Olmos.
Special emphasis will be placed on coping effectively with the rise of antisemitism in Europe, the Internet and the social media. An important panel will features Muslim leaders from Europe in order to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding. There will also be in-depth discussions in
12 working groups to address the challenges of Holocaust denial and distortion, the use of legal tools to combat antisemitism, the advancement of legislation against antisemitism, and more.
The conference is being organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs.
Additional information can be found on the
MFA website, which will also
broadcast live from the conference.