New York, NY, September 23, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said today's speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the United Nations General Assembly "put his anti-Semitism on full display" and shows the true threat that the Iranian regime poses to the West.

In his speech, which concluded with a smattering of applause from U.N. delegates, Ahmadinejad accused "a small but deceitful number of people called Zionists" for dominating financial and political centers in Europe and the U.S. in "a deceitful, complex and furtive manner."

Mr. Ahmadinejad also used the platform afforded him at the U.N. to accuse Jews of playing an "underhanded" role in the crisis in Georgia, and to reiterate his call for the demise of the "Zionist regime" and the establishment of a Palestinian state in all of Israel.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has once again shown to the world the true threat the Iranian regime poses to Israel, the United States and the West. 

It is clear that Ahmadinejad is deeply infected with anti-Semitism.  His statements accusing Jews of dominating and controlling finance and government in the United States and Europe, and of working as a cabal to foment conflict around the world, echo the most infamous passages of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion."  These ideas are classic anti-Semitism by any measure, and President Ahmadinejad has put it on full display for the entire world to see.

While presenting the Islamic Republic of Iran as a beacon of moderation and justice and exhorting nations to aspire to higher values of justice and love, the Iranian regime rejects these very values in word and in deed.   Iran's appalling record on human rights, its unrelenting pursuit of nuclear weapons, and its repeated calls for the downfall of the United States negate those values and promotes a culture of hate, not of love.  With its oft-repeated calls for "death" to America and Israel, the Iranian regime promotes a culture of hatred for the West and a worldview that is hostile to all freedom-loving nations.

Nuclear weapons in the hands of this increasingly irrational and extremist regime would pose an unambiguous threat to the world.   It is clear from Mr. Ahmadinejad's remarks that the Iranian regime has no intention to cooperate on any level with nuclear weapons inspectors, and will continue to do anything to promote its zealous pursuit of nuclear weapons and support for extremist ideology and groups.

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.