New York, NY, March 19, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel on her historic visit to Israel.  During a three-day state visit, Mrs. Merkel addressed the Israeli parliament, becoming the first German chancellor to do so.

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director said Mrs. Merkel's "trip and important statements reaffirmed the solid friendship between Germany and Israel and the Jewish people."

"We were particularly heartened by Chancellor Merkel's wide-ranging speech before the Knesset which demonstrated her principled and constructive stand on German-Israeli relations, as well as the vital issues facing Israel and the Middle East," said Messrs. Lewy and Foxman.  "We are confident of her continued leadership on the issue of Iran's nuclear program, which Chancellor Merkel characterized as a threat to the world."

The ADL leaders said the German chancellor "made unequivocally clear" that the international community must confront the Iran threat and praised Mrs. Merkel for her pledge to stand by Israel, which faces continuing Hamas terror attacks.

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.