New York, NY, December 28, 2001 ... In response to outrageous articles in a Saudi government-controlled newspaper accusing Jews of a "hellish plan to take over the world," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today strongly criticized Saudi leaders for "giving free reign to anti-Semitic canards and fostering hatred."

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The two-part article, titled "The Jewish Sense of Superiority in the World" and published on December 8-9 in the government-controlled daily newspaper Al-Watan, attacked Jews and accused Israel of "racism" and appointing "terrorist leaders" to government positions. The second article in the series opened with the headline: "The Jewish organizations are implementing their strategic hellish plan to take over the world."

"Despite all that has taken place in the world since September 11, the message apparently has not gotten through to the Saudi leadership, who continue to give a free reign to Islamic extremists and their base anti-Semitic canards and anti-American hatred," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "While Saudi leaders claim they are attempting to deal with the problem of Islamic extremists, giving these extremists an outlet for their hatred in a government newspaper is outrageous and clearly counterproductive to their process. It brings one to the conclusion that Saudi leaders are not serious about ending the cycle of hatred emanating from their country."

The articles come as the Kingdom and its leaders are facing intensifying post-September 11 scrutiny for allowing Islamic extremist elements in society to perpetrate gross anti-Semitic stereotypes and anti-American propaganda. Recently, Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister, Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, blamed American Jews for fomenting negative media coverage of Saudi Arabia.

ADL has conveyed its outrage over the Al-Watan articles to the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Bandar Bin Sultan. Excerpts from the article and additional examples of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric in the Arab world are available at the League's Web site

Arab media have continued to foster anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about the 9/11 attacks. The attacks' aftermath has led to an increase in anti-Semitic portrayals in the Arab media including, most recently, a 30-part series on Egyptian television dramatizing the infamous anti-Semitic forgery, Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The translation of the articles was provided by MEMRI.

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.