EU Commission President in Row with Jewish Leaders

07/01/2004| IslamWeb

The president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, has cancelled a conference on anti-Semitism after Jewish groups accused Brussels of "moral treachery". Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress, and Coby Benatoff, the head of the European Jewish Congress, wrote an article saying the commission was anti-Semitic. They cited a European Union opinion poll that showed most Europeans regarded Israel as the biggest threat to world security and the alleged suppression of an EU-financed study that found Muslim minorities were at the heart of growing anti-Semitic attacks in Europe. "Anti-Semitism can be expressed in two ways: by action and inaction. Remarkably, the European Commission is guilty of both," they wrote in the Financial Times. "Let us not mince words: Both of these actions were politically motivated, demonstrating a failure of will and decency." Mr Prodi was offended and wrote to them saying he was "surprised and shocked". The attack "forces me to suspend the preparations for the seminar", he added. Mr Prodi had suggested holding the seminar next month as part of an attempt to soothe Jewish anger over the publication of the EU poll. **PHOTO CAPTION*** EU Commission President Romano Prodi attend the opening meeting between the European Commission and the Irish Presidency of the Council. (AFP/NEWSFILE/Fran Caffrey)