The United Nations’ top official for the Middle East Peace
Process has said that spreading “deeply disturbing” conspiracy
theories which fuel anti-Semitism are unacceptable, and serve
neither the interests of Palestinians themselves, or the pursuit
of peace in the region.
UN Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov was responding to remarks
which were made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the
opening of the Palestinian National Council on Monday.
According to news reports, the Palestinian leader suggested that
the mass murder of European Jews during the Holocaust had been
connected to their financial practices.
Mr Mladenov said in a statement on Wednesday that President Abbas
“chose to use his speech at the opening of the Palestinian
National Council to repeat some of the most contemptuous
anti-Semitic slurs, including the suggestion that the social
behaviour of Jews was the cause for the Holocaust.”
“Leaders have an obligation to confront anti-Semitism everywhere
and always, not perpetuate the conspiracy theories that fuel it,”
stressed Mr. Mladenov.
Mr. Mladenov also reiterated that denying historic and religious
connection of the Jewish people to the land and their holy sites
in Jerusalem “stands in contrast to reality”.
He also stressed that the Holocaust was the result of thousands
of years of persecution and that it did not occur in a vacuum.
“This is why attempts to rewrite, downplay or deny it are
dangerous,” he said.
