'Anti-Semitism Should Not Become the Focus of the Jewish People'

JERUSALEM, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Israel Singer, Chairman of the Policy Council of the World Jewish Congress, expressed his opinion on the foreign policy of Israel and the Jewish people at the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism, held at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.

In his address, he suggested that we not focus on the issue of "how much Jews and Israelis are hated" but, instead, devote more effort to the promotion of relations with other faiths and nations, such as Right-wing Christians, moderate Muslims, Africa, South America and Asia. Singer mentioned that Israeli government ministers rarely travel to Africa and South America, preferring New York and Washington instead.

"Washington is important, but should not be our only ally," he emphasized. "From my many visits to these continents, I have become convinced that these nations are very interested in developing strong ties to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Throughout history, the Jewish nation has been isolated. We must start intensively seeking partners and alliances," he said.

Singer noted that Jews have a tendency feel like "a nation that dwells alone" and that, unfortunately, there are those that want to preserve and cultivate a ghetto ideology. "We should not turn anti-Semitism into the main focus of the Jewish people and thereby foster unjustified feelings of fear and persecution among Jews." He added, "Anti-Semitism exists, but that does not mean we have to automatically react every time an anti-Semitic caricature appears. It only means that we have failed in our foreign policy and have not managed to become close enough to other nations around the world."

Singer also discussed the Jewish communities in distress around the world. "Aside from Israel and the US, there are dozens of small, isolated Jewish communities, such as Venezuela, which must deal with the realities of the Middle East, and they feel abandoned." He called upon the conference participants to create a new mechanism with which to aid those communities. "The situation in the Middle East is not just an Israeli problem; it has implications on many Jews throughout the world, even in places where, supposedly, there is no anti-Semitism," Singer said.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC): is an international Jewish organization encompassing more than 100 Jewish communities on six continents. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people in order to advance the needs and interests of Jewish communities worldwide. The organization was founded in Geneva in 1936 and immediately became the leader in the preservation of the rights of Jews and the struggle against anti-Semitism.