Wiesenthal Center Expresses Surprise and Disappointment at Labor Party Welcome for "Holocaust-Fatigued" MP John Tamihere

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today expressed its surprise and intense disappointment at the decision of New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Labor Party to unanimously welcome back MP John Tamihere who only several days ago declared that he was "sick and tired" of hearing about Jews gassed in the Holocaust.

In a statement issued today in Jerusalem, the Center’s Israel director and chief Nazi-hunter Dr. Efraim Zuroff called upon Prime Minister Clark to reconsider her decision, which was sending a very dangerous message to those opposed to Holocaust studies and tolerance education. "If MP John Tamihere is not punished in a meaningful way for his outrageous and offensive remarks, it will only encourage anti-Semites, racists and Holocaust deniers to be far more vocal about their noxious views. Instead of welcoming back MP Tamihere after merely verbally distancing herself from his remarks, Prime Minister Clark should seriously consider making MP Tamihere accompany her on her forthcoming trip to Auschwitz as part of a serious educational program on genocide in general and the Holocaust in particular, which will make clear to MP Tamihere why his comments should disqualify him from public service," said Zuroff.

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