New York, NY, February 6, 1997...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged the Government of Egypt to strenuously denounce the continued promotion of anti-Semitism in the Egyptian media.

ADL raised the issue in response to a recent Egyptian Gazette article which advanced anti- Semitic perceptions. An ADL letter-to-the-editor was printed on February 3, and was accompanied by a direct response from the Gazette which stood by its support of the anti-Semitic assertions and denounced ADL's complaint as "well known 'Anti-Semitism' blackmailing."

The Gazette's response went on to espouse further anti-Semitic statements including, "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, is a book acknowledged by many world institutions to be telling the secret motivations of the Zionist's intentions and plots."

"As we expressed to the Gazette and as we have raised repeatedly with the Egyptian government," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, in a letter to Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Maher El Sayed, "such anti-Semitism is particularly appalling coming from Egypt, a nation which has been at peace with Israel for almost two decades and has led the Arab world in the search for reconciliation with Israel." Mr. Foxman urged the Government of Egypt "to strenuously denounce the promotion of such offensive anti-Semitic ideas."

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.