Grave disquiet over the recently renewed manifestations of anti-Semitic activities in a number of countries, particularly in West Germany and Austria, was voiced here at the two-day conference of the European executive of the World Jewish Congress, which concluded its sessions here today. Attending the parley were representatives from WJC sections in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Britain and other West European countries.
Lord Sieff of Britain, chairman of the European executive, declared there has been a great increase recently in anti-Semetic activities, and said: “There is reason to believe that this trend is being fomented by agents of President Nasser, of Egypt, in furtherance of a campaign against Israel in which he does not hesitate to jeopardize the security and tranquility of Jewish communities throughout the world.”
In a special report to the conference, Dr. Stephen Roth, of London, executive director of the European division of the WJC, cited numerous instances of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany and Austria and of Arab-incited, anti-Jewish agitation in Latin America. “The real danger, ” he said, “is that the German mood is changing. There is a lessening awareness there of the past and of respect for the moral obligations resulting from the Hitler period. “
Reports were delivered to the conference by Dr. Hendrick van Dam, secretary-general of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and Dr. Heinz Galinski, president of the Berlin Jewish Community. Special reports were also delivered on the situation of the Jews in the Soviet Union and on recent anti-Jewish developments in Austria. Resolutions condemning all these developments, including those in the Soviet Union, Austria and Germany, were adopted by the conference at its final session today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
