New York, NY, August 9, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep disappointment with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for his "continued blatant one-sided statements" regarding Israel's actions in Lebanon.

In a letter to the Secretary General, the League also expressed outrage that the U.N. Human Rights Council this week has scheduled another special session, at the behest of the Arab States and the Group of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to condemn Israel.

"While you clearly are not at a loss for words when it comes to criticizing and denouncing Israel, a member state of the United Nations, you seen unable to muster an equally strong voice to denounce the daily firing by the terrorist organization Hezbollah of hundreds of rockets into Israel specifically aimed at and intended to kill and maim civilians," said the letter to Mr. Annan, signed by Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

In a statement yesterday, Mr. Annan accused Israel of "a pattern of violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, committed during the course of the current hostilities."  The statement's timing and language, coinciding with the move by the Human Rights Council to censure Israel, "can only been seen as a clear signal from you to the Human Rights Council that its immoral fixation on Israel continues to be acceptable in the eyes of the leader of the United Nations," wrote Ms. Balser and Mr. Foxman.
 
The League will publicly raise its concerns about the Secretary General and the U.N. with an ad in The New York Times, scheduled to appear on Thursday, August 10.  The ad addresses Mr. Annan directly, asking: "How many more Israeli civilians must die before you condemn Hezbollah? And when will you extend condolences to Israeli victims?"

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.