Wiesenthal Centre Commends World Economic Forum for Prompt Removal of Antisemitic Article from its Online Magazine

January 26, 2006

CENTRE SIMON WIESENTHAL - SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE - CENTRO SIMON WIESENTHAL
64, avenue Marceau - 75008 Paris - Tel. +33 (0) 1 47 23 76 37 - Fax: +33
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E-mail: csweurope@compuserve.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wiesenthal Centre Commends World Economic Forum for Prompt Removal of
Antisemitic Article from its Online Magazine

Paris

In response to a protest today by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, the World Economic Forum, currently meeting in Davos, immediately removed an antisemitic article posted in its online magazine.  According to Mark Adams, head of WEF Communications, its Founder and
Executive Chairman, Professor Klaus Schwab, "issued a strong apology and a commitment to make sure such a thing NEVER happens again."

In a letter to Schwab, Dr. Shimon Samuels, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations, had drawn urgent attention to "...the abuse of this year's Annual Meeting on-line magazine, The Global Agenda, (see: www.globalagendamagazine.com/2006/QUMSIYEH.asp. View the expanded article by clicking on "Geopolitics and Security").*

*(SWC notes that the article has since been removed.)

Samuels noted, "The site's front page is disfigured by a long column entitled 'Boycott Israel,' and continues, 'Global civil society ought to boycott Israel until it ends its apartheid-like treatment of Palestinians,' says Mazin Qumsiyeh, who is credientialed as, 'served on the faculties of Duke and Yale universities.'"  Samuels' letter continued, "The article is a tirade of antisemitism in the spirit of the notorious conspiracy forgery, 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.'"

The letter had emphasized, "Though, undoubtedly a scam aimed at impugning the image of the WEF, our Centre urges your immediate action against its perpetrators and your condemnation of the author's incitement. The World Economic Forum must not be the victim of hatemongers who would besmirch its good name."

Samuels stated in conclusion, "Having served on the faculty at three sessions of the World Economic Forum (2001, 2004 in Warsaw and 2005), I am well aware that antisemitism has no place at the Davos Annual Meeting."

The World Economic Forum, in its reply to the Centre, explained, "It is totally an oversight on our part in relation to the company which produces the magazine for us - and we are doing our very best to try to remedy the situation."

For further information, please contact Samuels at +33 6 09 77 01 58.