Jerusalem, May 19, 2004...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is appalled by and strongly condemns the use of Nazi terminology against IDF soldiers who take part in the evacuation of settlement outposts, as took place during the recent evacuation of Mitzpe Yitzhar.

ADL's Israel Office issued the following statement:

"As we have said on numerous occasions, regardless of one's political views using such language and evoking Nazi imagery is offensive, demeaning to victims of the Holocaust and is a perversion of history.  For Jews to use such terminology when speaking of other Jews is perhaps the embodiment of perversion. Furthermore, as the term "Nazi" has come to symbolize the personification of evil, using such language is inciteful and can serve to legitimize violence against Israeli soldiers by anyone who disagrees with the policies of the government.

"ADL calls on all responsible religious and civic leaders of the settlement movement to communicate forcefully with their supporters about the wide-ranging damage such words and images impart on their own movement, Israel and the Jewish people."