New York, NY, August 14, 2007 … In a briefing to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York City, Jewish community leaders from Argentina told of a disturbing rise in anti-Semitic attacks and other incidents against the Argentinean Jewish community, with a reported increase of more than 40 percent in 2006.

The leaders, representing the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas de Argentina (DAIA), presented the findings of their Report on Anti-Semitism in Argentina 2006 at a briefing at ADL National Headquarters last week.  The report documented 586 anti-Semitic incidents in 2006 – up from 373 in 2005. The majority of the incidents involved anti-Semitic graffiti and other acts of vandalism.

The report also cited among the incidents an attack by a group of skinheads against Orthodox Jews walking in the street to synagogue, death threats against a Jewish journalist, bomb threats against Jewish institutions, and the desecration of Jewish graves in the Entre Rios province.  It noted that the number of incidents spiked in July 2006 during the period of Israel's war with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said:  "We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the Argentine Jewish community as they grapple with many challenges," including the unsolved investigation into the 1994 bombing of the AMIA-DAIA building, whose perpetrators have not been brought to justice.  "In standing with you we are sending a message that we are one. In the fight against anti-Semitism and prejudice, we stand up for each other and together."

Attending the presentation were representatives of several major American Jewish organizations, the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the United Nations, and diplomatic representatives from a number of other Latin American countries.

The DAIA, the leading defense agency of the Argentine Jewish community, represents 140 social, educational, cultural, religious and professional organizations throughout Argentina.  Presenting their report was Angel Schindel, DAIA First Vice President, Claudio Avruj Executive Director of the DAIA and Marisa Braylan, Director of the Center for Social Studies.

The full DAIA report, which also documents prejudice against other minorities in Argentina including, Chinese, Koreans, Gypsies, Muslims, homosexuals, Afro-descendants and others, is available on the League's Web site.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.