Rome Conference Calls for Stronger Fight Against Anti-Semitism

December 2004

A two-day conference aimed at raising awareness of the spread of anti-semitism and the dangers it poses to democracy concluded Thursday in Rome. The meeting was convened by the Anti-Defamation League, a group formed early last century to fight anti-semitism and discrimination against Jews, and co-sponsored by the Italian newspaper Il Foglio.

The conference "Anti-Semitism - A Threat to Democracy" brought together European and U.S. politicians, journalists and Jewish rights activists to examine the current trends in anti-semitism.

Participants gathered in Rome Wednesday evening, where Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini, a former neo-fascist, delivered an opening address. Mr. Fini said the conference confirmed the need for commitment of all political institutions and society in general in the fight against anti-semitism.

The director of the U.S. Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, praised Italy's stand against anti-semitism. He said the Italian government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has always recognized the seriousness of the anti-semitism problem. "It is also our shared view that anti-semitism, while specifically directed at Jews, is a threat to all of us, is a threat to democracy, is a threat to all decent people for anti- semistism is against all of us. It is in fact a crime against humanity," he said.

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