In direct contradiction of Nazi-hunter and humanitarian Simon Wiesenthal's lifelong belief in justice and due process in dealing with those responsible for the murders of Jews, The Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center has published a press release that openly calls for violent retaliation for the recent Tel Aviv Disco Bombing.
"Violence is like a weed.
It does not die even in the greatest drought."
-Simon Wiesenthal, from his 1989 book
"Justice, Not Vengeance"
The following press release comes from the front page of the website of The Simon Wiesenthal Center.
www.wiesenthal.com
The Simon Wiesenthal Center was founded in 1977 in Los Angeles, California by Rabbi Marvin Heir and is named in honor of Simon Wiesenthal.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center describes itself as the world's leading defender of Jewish human rights.
Any human rights group should be questioned when it ignores the beliefs of the man for whom it is named and the beliefs of one of the greatest humananitarians in human history.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center has also chosen to ignore one the most famous maxims of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"The old rule of an eye for an eye makes everyone blind."
--------------------
June 1, 2001
WIESENTHAL CENTER URGES RETALIATION IN WAKE OF DEADLY SUICIDE BOMBING IN TEL AVIV
The SWC today urged the State of Israel to retaliate against the latest unspeakable atrocity committedagainst its people.
"Enough is enough," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the SWC. "No country including the United States would ever stand idly by without immediately striking back. And all this carnage being inflicted even as Israel has been observing a unilateral cease-fire in the hopes of rekindling the peace process." Hier continued, "Ultimately, Yassir Arafat
is responsible for this atrocity. If he is unwilling or unable to stop this terroristic violence, he should be forced to resign and be replaced by Palestinian leaders interested in peace."
"The Simon Wiesenthal Center is convening its
Leadership Conference in Washington, DC this Monday, June 4, and our delegation will urge President Bush to fully back Israel as she strikes back against terrorism," said Hier.
For more information, contact the SWC Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036.
--------------------
The direct link to this press release is:
http://www.wiesenthal.com/social/press/pr_item.cfm?ItemID=1746
Original: Wiesenthal Center Retaliation Call Contradicts Simon Wiesenthal's Beliefs