World Jewish Congress

Orban talks... as Jobbik walks

Adam Lebor — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:45:04 +0100

Viktor Orban, the Hungarian Prime Minister, strongly condemned antisemitism and pledged to honour the memory of Holocaust victims at the World Jewish Congress, which met in Budapest last weekend, but failed to criticise the far-right Jobbik party, the third largest in parliament.

Mr Orban told the delegates: “History has taught the Hungarians that antisemitism must be recognised in time… It is especially important that we make it clear: antisemitism is unacceptable and intolerable.”

The government says that it fully supports the renaissance in Jewish life. Between 80,000 and 100,000 Jews live in Hungary, most in Budapest. The city has numerous functioning synagogues, Jewish schools, cafes and restaurants.

Mr Orban emphasised the government’s commitment to commemorating the Holocaust, when more than 500,000 Hungarian Jews were killed. A new government committee will co-ordinate nationwide events next year, the 70th anniversary of the deportations. “It is with a broken heart that we bow our heads in memory of the victims,” said Mr Orban “but thank God that an authentic Jewish community…managed to survive.”

Mr Orban pointedly compared Hungary to France as a country where, despite the murder of a teacher and three schoolchildren in an antisemitic attack in Toulouse, there was “no consensus” on whether a minute’s silence could be held in state schools.

But there was strong disappointment that Mr Orban failed to single out Jobbik for condemnation and failed to mention any antisemitic incidents.

Ferenc Orosz, the chairman of the Raoul Wallenberg memorial committee, was recently beaten up at a football match after he asked spectators to stop chanting “Mussolini” and “Sieg Heil”.

Jobbik’s strong parliamentary presence has emboldened antisemites, said Tamas Vero, a Budapest rabbi who attended the WJC assembly. “The situation became much worse after Jobbik entered parliament in 2010. People hear members of parliament speaking in this way, so it becomes acceptable to speak like this on the streets.”

A spokesman for the WJC said that Mr Orban “did not confront the true nature of the problem: the threat posed by the antisemites in general and by the extreme right-wing Jobbik party in particular.” The WJC accused Mr Orban of failing to draw “a clear line” between the government and the right-wing fringe.

However, WJC president Ronald Lauder, who was re-elected at the assembly, subsequently apologised for failing to acknowledge Mr Orban’s criticism of Jobbik as “a real danger” in an interview with Ynet, published last Saturday.

Hundreds of Jobbik activists gathered on Saturday in downtown Budapest to protest against the WJC gathering. Marton Gyongyosi, a Jobbik MP and vice-president of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, told the rally: “Our country has become subjugated to Zionism, it has become a target of colonisation while we, the indigenous people, can only play the role extras.”

Mr Orban had ordered the far-right gathering to be banned but a court over-ruled his decision.

Board of Deputies President Vivian Wineman, who led a British delegation to the gathering, commented: “The decision to hold the meeting in Budapest was the right one. But Orban missed his opportunity.”

Hungarian PM pledges to stop far-right protests ahead of WJC meeting

Zoe Winograd — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:01:41 +0100

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has banned protests against the World Jewish Congress plenary assembly, due to take place in Budapest next week.

Last month, Lorant Hegedüs Jr, member of the far-right Jobbik party, announced plans for an “anti-bolshevik and anti-Zionist people’s gathering” to take place this weekend. On Monday Mr Orban told police to stop any anti-Zionist demonstration.

The WJC is being held in Budapest this year to show solidarity with the Hungarian Jewish community, which has faced a resurgence of antisemitism in recent months. It will be one of the first times that the WJC plenary assembly is held outside Jerusalem.

World Jewish Congress compares Golden Dawn to the Nazis

Anna Sheinman — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:08:49 +0000

The World Jewish Congress has compared a boycott of Jewish cosmetic firms by Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn to actions of the German Nazi government, further escalating a spat between the two organisations.

The fight began at the recent WJC Executive Committee meeting in Thessaloniki in northern Greece attended by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, where WJC President Ronald Lauder said that Golden Dawn was a “a threat to democracy” and called them the “new Nazis”.

A motion was passed at the meeting calling on Greece to “consider banning political parties, such as the Golden Dawn movement, which pose a serious danger to liberal democracy”.

In response, a post on Golden Dawn’s New York-based blog ‘Xaameriki’ called for a boycott of a list of cosmetic companies owned by Estee Lauder, which is owned by the Lauder family of which Ronald Lauder is a member.

Included were Estee Lauder, Mac, Clinique, Bobbi Brown and Israeli company Aveda. Many of the companies listed, including Estee Lauder, are Jewish owned.

Maram Stern, deputy secretary-general of the WJC, said: “To announce a boycott of ‘Jewish’ companies a few days before the 80th anniversary of the first organised boycott of Jewish businesses in Germany by the Nazi government, on 1 April 1933, shows the true face of Golden Dawn. Both in words and in actions these fanatics behave like the Nazis did 80 years ago.

“Once again, this is a reminder that they need to be opposed vigorously by all democratic forces, not just in Greece but everywhere they operate. Together with the Greek Jewish Community, the World Jewish Congress will continue to speak out against Golden Dawn. We are not afraid of them.”

A spokesperson for Golden Dawn said: “We are not encouraging the boycott of Estee Lauder because it is owned by Jews, if there was a Chinese, Armenian, or Martian international institution that was attempting to undermine freedom and democracy in Greece, we would boycott them too. Our boycott is peaceful, and in the name of Greek freedom and self-determination to choose its own path.”

World Jewish Congress names fourth secretary general in six years

Anna Sheinman — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:20:23 +0000

World Jewish Congress has named London based Robert Singer, director general of World Ort, as its fourth secretary general in under six years.

The WJC is an international organisation which represents Jewish communities and organisations in over 100 countries.

Mr Singer will replace New Yorker and foreign affairs analyst Dan Diker who resigned in December 2012 after two and a half years citing “administrative reasons”.

In the role before Mr Diker was South African born Michael Schneider who took the position in September 2007. Mr Schneider replaced American Stephen Herbits who became secretary general in 2005.

Mr Singer will leave his role as director general and chief executive officer at Jewish educational NGO World Ort after 14 years. A former IDF officer, Mr Singer worked in the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office for 12 years before joining Ort.

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said: “We are delighted that Robert will be joining us at the WJC. He brings a wealth of experience with him from his work in Israel and internationally. He has had tremendous achievements at World Ort, where he also gained a great appreciation for many of our Jewish communities around the world.”

WJC president ‘sought to buy election result’

Sandy Rashty — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:00:00 +0000

World Jewish Congress President Ron Lauder has been asked to stand aside by the organisation’s vice-president in the wake of accusations that he offered a large sum of money to influence an Austrian community leadership election in November.

Oskar Deutsch, the president of the Austrian Jewish community, last week alleged that Mr Lauder had offered more than 4.5 million euros to a number of community groups in Vienna in exchange for electing his preferred candidate.

WJC Vice-President Flo Kaufmann said the US billionaire must “stand aside because he’s been accused and it needs to be investigated. The problem is that we live in an atmosphere in which when allegations are made, a straightforward complaint is not the end — that’s just the way it is today.”

Mr Deutsch, who was re-elected in the November election, said: “[Mr Lauder] approached three running parties with a substantial offer of money… to elect Martin Engelberg as president.

“Beside the legal and halachic issues, we considered Mr Lauder’s action immoral and absolutely intolerable.”

Mr Deutsch added: “We are able to fight antisemites and the enemies of the Jewish people — but we cannot survive when Jewish leaders, who should protect and represent us, try to buy our elections.”

A spokesperson for the World Jewish Congress president said in a statement to the JTA, an online newspaper: “The allegations are despicable and without any basis in truth.”

The Austrian community has around 8,000 members and presidential elections take place every five years.

WJC Secretary General resigns

Sandy Rashty — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:00:38 +0000

World Jewish Congress Secretary General Dan Diker has announced that he will leave the organisation in January 2013.

The former WJC adviser on Middle East policy cited “administrative reasons” for his departure.

Mr Diker, who will move back to Israel after his tenure at the WJC ends on January 2, is known for orchestrating a United Nations conference in September and raising the issue of justice for Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

He also helped establish the Global Coalition for Israel, a 60-strong group of international organisations and seven Israeli government ministries that challenge attempts to delegitimise Israel.

WJC President Ron Lauder praised the secretary-general’s “enthusiasm and dynamism.

“His love of Israel and the Jewish people is second to none [and] we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Austrian community says Ron Lauder “unwelcome”

Sandy Rashty — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:14:10 +0000

The Austrian Jewish community has declared World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder an “unwelcome person” for allegedly interfering in their affairs, according to a report in Haaretz.

Oskar Deutsch, the community president, reportedly accused the Jewish billionaire and former US envoy to Austria, of offering the community leadership “more than €4.5million” to back candidate Martin Engelberg in their board elections.

Mr Lauder has strongly denied allegations, calling them “unfounded and irresponsible”.

Gary Lewi, a spokesperson for Mr Lauder, told the JTA: “Let there be no mistake: These allegations are despicable and without any basis in truth.

"For some 25 years, Ambassador Lauder has demonstrated through word and deed his support for the Viennese Jewish community.

“In repudiating these unfounded and irresponsible allegations in the strongest terms possible, he continues to stand with this proud and dynamic community today and far into the future.”

Jewish leader: We can't afford delay on peace process

Josh Jackman — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:38:05 +0100

The World Jewish Congress president has published an open letter calling on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to re-open peace talks with Israel as a matter of urgency.

Ronald Lauder used the three-year anniversary of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at Bar-Ilan University, in which he asked for Arab leaders to meet him for an open dialogue, to appeal for Abbas to forgo preconditions and return to the negotiating table.

He also condemned the Palestinian president for continuing to "decline the offer to begin direct talks with no preconditions".

He said: "Neither the Israelis, nor the Palestinians, nor any of us who seek peace in the region can afford further delay."

Irish Israel boycott proposal 'cynical and hypocritical'

Jennifer Lipman — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:39:22 +0100

Jewish leaders have criticised the Irish foreign minister for a "cynical" call to boycott some Israeli goods.

Eamon Gilmore said that he might push the European Union to block goods produced in the West Bank, in order to pressure the Israeli government into making policy changes.

He said that settlements made "the achievement of a two-state solution in the Middle East impossible" and said that if there was no change on the matter "we may have to look at some additional measures".

But Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, described the call for a boycott as "cynical and hypocritical.

"His remarks show that some European leaders would like to see Israel being coerced into making unilateral concessions," he said. "Minister Gilmore is taking aim at the only liberal democracy in the Middle East while keeping quiet about those who really wreak havoc in the region: the Assads, Ahmadinejads and their allies H i zbollah and Hamas."

Mr Gilmore's comments coincided with decisions taken in Denmark and South Africa requiring products made in West Bank communities to be specifically labelled as such.

"Instead of encouraging economic co-operation, certain governments seem eager to jump on the bandwagon of the global anti-Israel movement in an effort to pander to their electorates," said Mr Lauder. But he said that West Bank producers employed numerous Palestinian workers, so "by doing so, they are making things worse, not better".

Work of gifted Jewish activist Steinberg celebrated

Jennifer Lipman — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:35:23 +0100

The former executive director of the World Jewish Congress has been described as "one of the great Jewish activists of the past decades" following his death at just 59-years-old.

Elan Steinberg had been battling cancer when he died earlier this month.

Ronald Lauder, the WJC president, said his premature death would leave a huge void in the Jewish world.

"He was deeply committed to advocating the rights of the Jews around the world" said Mr Lauder.

"He was probably the most gifted communication professional in the Jewish organisational world. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Steinberg, a prominent figure in Jewish affairs for years and at the helm of the WJC from 1986 to 2004, led campaigns to help Holocaust survivors and secure restitution from the German government and Swiss banks.

Menachem Rosensaft, vice president of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, said Mr Steinberg was a "passionate advocate for the Jewish people, for the state of Israel, and for any Jew anywhere in the world who was persecuted or threatened".

He added: "His brilliant mind and his great heart have no equal and are irreplaceable. The entire Jewish community is orphaned today."