The president of B’nai B’rith International, Moishe Smith, expressed his concern over growing anti-Semitism in Latin America and called to raise consciousness about this issue among the people of the region.
In a special interview with Argentina’s Jewish News Agency (AJN), Smith maintained that "anti-Semitism in Latin America is growing" and noted that this is due to "the close relationship between Iran and countries in the region, such as Venezuela and Bolivia".
"After the UN General Meeting last year, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not return to his country, he headed to Bolivia", he maintained.
Smith also praised the organization of conferences on anti-Semitism, such as that held in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, since "they help to raise consciousness on this issue".
"We must stay alert", Smith said, and added that it is not "only the anti-Semitism we have seen for centuries", but rather one "based on the criticism of Israel".
This is the first time an anti-Semitism forum is held in Latin America and Smith said this will contribute to "raise awareness" in the region that "anti-Semitism may lead to many things that are not good not only for the Jewish community, but for the community at large".
Also on Wednesday, the B’nai B’rith head met with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. In what Smith described as a "fruitful" meeting, they analyzed the situation affecting the country and the possibility to extend the fight against anti-Semitism throughout the region, and even discussed the progress of the investigation on the 1992 and 1994 attacks perpetrated against the Israeli Embassy and the AMIA Jewish Center.
In a press conference held after the meeting, Smith asked Argentina to maintain its fight against anti-Semitism.
"It is extremely important that the government issues public statements against anti-Semitism and that the OAS is included in this fight in which Argentina is involved", Smith said.
He also said that during the interview with President Kirchner "there was an exchange of ideas to advance the fight aimed at solving the AMIA case".
The meeting was also attended by the President of B’nai B’rith in Buenos Aires, Boris Kalnicky and the Argentine Foreign Minister, Jorge Taiana.
Kalnicki agreed with Smith and told AJN that "anti-Semitism has infiltrated in Latin America through Venezuela" since "the Venezuelan government tightened its international relationships with the Iranian regime".
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