New York, NY, January 27, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned the outburst of violent anti-Semitism in Argentina in response to Israel's operation against Hamas in Gaza and called on government leaders at the highest level to speak out against it.

More than a week after the ceasefire went into effect, anti-Semitic rhetoric, posters with Nazi imagery and Holocaust comparisons continue to appear at anti-Israel demonstrations and rallies.

"An outburst of hateful rhetoric against Israel and in-your-face anti-Semitism has not been seen like this in Argentina for decades," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "The anti-Semitic displays and an atmosphere of intimidation have contributed to a wave of threats of violence, intimidation and attacks against Jewish communal institutions and individuals.  This outpouring of anti-Jewish hate should be condemned at the highest levels of Argentina's government as unacceptable in a civil democratic society."

In a series of rallies in Buenos Aires and in other cities, slogans such as "Jews Assassins" have been chanted and flags and insignia of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah have been openly displayed. Terrorists from Hezbollah and the Iranian regime have been linked to the July 18, 1994 AMIA-DAIA bombing, which killed 85 Argentineans, and the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in 1992.

Since Israel's military operation in Gaza was launched on December 27, the DAIA has reported a substantial increase in anti-Semitic incidents against identifiably Jewish persons, property and institutions. Graffiti has been sprayed in streets and public parks and, last weekend, a message was spray-painted near the AMIA/DAIA building which read, "the third bomb is coming."  On January 26, Buenos Aires police received a bomb threat against the offices of the AMIA that turned out to be a hoax.

ADL expressed its solidarity with the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina, the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas and the entire Argentinean Jewish community in the face of this new threat.

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.