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
