Robert Bandanza
October 6th, 2009, 09:38 AM
B’nai B’rith criticises president over Iran
International Jewish organisation B’nai B’rith (Sons of the Covenant) has launched a stinging attack on Austrian officials over their approach to Iran.
Austrian B’nai B’rith President Victor E. Wagner said today (Tues) in an open letter to Austrian President Heinz Fischer that no Austrians should have remained present during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech to the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
Wagner, who claimed Israel was in a defensive fight for its existence, said: "Given that both you and your wife have Jewish ancestors, such a gaffe has to be decisively opposed. We know from history that a policy of appeasement of a criminal regime cannot succeed."
Austrian Jewish Community (IKG) President Ariel Muzicant has also criticised Austrian policy towards Iran.
He recently said: "Austria has contented itself with small, symbolic protest gestures to avoid endangering Austrian firms’ business in Iran. Such business and Austrian policy help the anti-Semitic regime and its nuclear programme remain in existence."
B'nai B'rith, established in 1843 in the USA, is active in almost 60 countries. It sees itself as the largest international Jewish organisation for support of human rights.
People’s Party (ÖVP) Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger last month branded Iranian President Ahmadinejad "feckless" after he had said a "Zionist regime" wanted to kill Palestinians during his UN speech.
Spindelegger said after Ahmadinejad’s criticism of Israel at the UN General Assembly: "In this case, from our point of view, there cannot and should not be any neutrality or softness.
"Ahmadinejad’s feckless attempt to stir up hatred and extremism through anti-Semitic and inflammable language must be strongly rejected by the international community."
http://austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-10-06/16986/B%92nai_B%92rith_criticises_president_over_Iran
International Jewish organisation B’nai B’rith (Sons of the Covenant) has launched a stinging attack on Austrian officials over their approach to Iran.
Austrian B’nai B’rith President Victor E. Wagner said today (Tues) in an open letter to Austrian President Heinz Fischer that no Austrians should have remained present during Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech to the UN General Assembly in New York last month.
Wagner, who claimed Israel was in a defensive fight for its existence, said: "Given that both you and your wife have Jewish ancestors, such a gaffe has to be decisively opposed. We know from history that a policy of appeasement of a criminal regime cannot succeed."
Austrian Jewish Community (IKG) President Ariel Muzicant has also criticised Austrian policy towards Iran.
He recently said: "Austria has contented itself with small, symbolic protest gestures to avoid endangering Austrian firms’ business in Iran. Such business and Austrian policy help the anti-Semitic regime and its nuclear programme remain in existence."
B'nai B'rith, established in 1843 in the USA, is active in almost 60 countries. It sees itself as the largest international Jewish organisation for support of human rights.
People’s Party (ÖVP) Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger last month branded Iranian President Ahmadinejad "feckless" after he had said a "Zionist regime" wanted to kill Palestinians during his UN speech.
Spindelegger said after Ahmadinejad’s criticism of Israel at the UN General Assembly: "In this case, from our point of view, there cannot and should not be any neutrality or softness.
"Ahmadinejad’s feckless attempt to stir up hatred and extremism through anti-Semitic and inflammable language must be strongly rejected by the international community."
http://austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2009-10-06/16986/B%92nai_B%92rith_criticises_president_over_Iran