The presidents of Argentina and Brazil last week signed a petition condemning anti-Semitism and calling on the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution denouncing anti-Semitic acts.
Israel Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, said the presidents signed the petitions as part of an effort his organization is leading to convince as many countries as possible to sign the petition before the UN vote, which could come as early as this fall.
“We plan to go country to country,” Singer said. “We’re lobbying every country at the top and trying to get presidents to sign on. We’re heartened by the success we have had with the two largest countries in Latin America.”
In June, Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the 191 member states of the Unite Nations to endorse the resolution, which the 55-member Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has adopted. The resolution condemns anti-Semitic acts and declares that political developments are no excuse for such actions. A similar UN resolution introduced last year by Italy was withdrawn under pressure from Arab nations.
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