German bishop comments 'damaged relations'
Decades of Jewish - Christian relations in Germany harmed by comment comparing Israel to Nazis
Decades of progress in Jewish - Christian relations in Germany were "undone" when a German bishop compared Israel to Nazi Germany, the Chicago Jewish News reported on Friday.
"Activists are wondering how to repair rifts in those ties after a delegation from the German Catholic Bishops' Conference that visited Israel and the Palestinian territories in late February and early March compared Ramallah to the infamous Warsaw Ghetto," the report said.
"This morning we saw pictures of the Warsaw Ghetto at Yad Vashem, and this evening we are going to the Ramallah ghetto," Bishop Gregor Maria Franz Hanke was quoted as saying.
The Chicago Jewish News report added that "longtime activists in Jewish-Christian relations are at odds over how to respond."
The report quoted Eva Schulz-Jander, Catholic president of the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation, as saying: "You ask yourself, why work on Christian-Jewish cooperation for 50 years when such a comparison can be drawn on an ahistorical basis and out of a false sense of concern?"
She added: "I don't understand it and I am sad about it. It's a setback."
Israel's ambassador to Germany, Shimon Stein, condemned the comments and said he felt "horror and disgust," the Jewish News said. It added that Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, described the remarks as "appalling and completely unacceptable."
Australia remains steadfast on PA boycott
Australia has expressed cross-party support for the upholding of a boycott on the Palestinian Authority following the formation of the new Hamas - Fatah government, the Australian Jewish News (AJN) reported on Friday.
"Australia will adhere to the international boycott and will continue to withhold aid from the Palestinian Authority until the new national unity government recognizes Israel's right to exist," the AJN said
The AJN quoted a spokesperson of Australia's Foreign Ministry, and a member of the opposition Labor party as being equally determined to see the boycott through, in line with the demands of the Quartet.
"We stand by the Quartet's principles. The Palestinians must recognize Israel's right to exist otherwise we will have no dealings with them," the foreign ministry spokesperson said.
"Labor shares the position of the Quartet and much of the broader international community on this issue," a Labor foreign affairs spokesperson was quoted by the AJN as saying.
Holocaust restitution group backs Rabbi Singer
"Despite the sudden dismissal of Israel Singer from the World Jewish Congress, which he helped steer for 35 years, the leaders of a major Holocaust restitution group he presides over this week said they are standing by him," the Jewish Week reported on Friday.
Julius Berman, chairman of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, rebuffed claims made by WJC President Edgar Bronfman, who accused Singer of making unauthorized uses of WJC money. Berman "asserted that as president, Singer has never been involved in the financial decisions of the Claims Conference, and said he sees no reason to take action at this time," the Jewish Week said.
"In my opinion he can continue to function because of who he is and what he represents," the Jewish Week quoted Berman as saying.
