UN Secretary-General Guterres Tells Simon Wiesenthal Center Leaders: “Denial of Israel’s right to exist is anti-Semitism”

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres metwith senior officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center at his offices at UNheadquarters in New York. 

The discussion covered a wide range of issues including efforts to maketerrorism a crime against humanity, the UN’s role in countering burgeoninganti-Semitism in Europe, ending the demonizing and abuse of Israel in and by UNagencies, including UNRWA, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council, andstumbling blocks hampering Middle East peace prospects. 

Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the leading Jewish human rights NGOurged the Secretary-General to pave the way for the UN to declare terrorism acrime against humanity. Rabbi Hier said, “There needs to be real consequencesfor perpetrators and supporters of terrorist acts like the recent suicidebombing carnage at a concert in Manchester, England and the UN must declarethat this scourge is a crime against humanity.” 

Secretary General acknowledged the seriousness of terrorism and said that he iscommitted to reforming the current UN structure that currently has 38 separateentities dealing with the issue. 

Mr. Guterres, the former Prime Minister ofPortugal and a close friend of the late President of Israel, Shimon Peres,emphasized, “Denial of Israel’s right to exist is anti-Semitism.” Herejected the campaigns to erase Jewish history in the Holy Land. “Historymust be respected. Jerusalem is a holy city for three religions,”Secretary General Guterres added.

Rabbi Hier pointed to Hamas’ genocidal founding charter and ongoing terroristactivities as the main roadblock to the peace process-not Israeli settlements.Mr. Gutteres, who opposes expansion of Israeli communities on the West Bank,acknowledged that Hamas had succeeded in leveraging the UN presence in Gaza. Hesaid that he has a “very strong commitment to not allowing UNWRA to beinstrumentalized” in the future, the way Hamas and Islamic Jihad during thelast Gaza War.

The Center’s Associate Dean, Rabbi Abraham Cooper who directs the Center’sSocial Action agenda asked the Secretary General to speak out against legal andpolitical attacks on core Jewish (and Muslim) religious practices includingShechita (ritual slaughter) and mila (circumcision). A recent unanimous vote inBelgium’s parliament outlaws Shechita, and there are recurring calls inScandinavia and Germany to ban circumcision of Jewish baby boys.

Government Affairs Director, Mark Weitzman who represents the SWC at the UN,outlined the many efforts in Europe and the Middle East underway to revise,rewrite, and in some instances deny past history, including the Shoah. Alsoparticipating was Rabbi Meyer H. May, SWC Executive Director. 

“We are profoundly impressed by the scope of Secretary GeneralGuterres’ knowledge and interest on issues that impact World Jewry directly,”noted Rabbi Hier, adding, “As an NGO at the UN and UNESCO, theWiesenthal Center is committed to support the Secretary General’s efforts toensure that all members, including the Jewish state be treated as equals,”Rabbi Hier concluded.