Holocaust Day in Europe, and the day commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz, will be marked in Israel and in Jewish communities around the world as a day for combating anti-Semitism: Friday January 27th 2006.

At the special press conference, the Minister for Israeli Society and the World Jewish Community, Avraham Hirchson, and Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Zeev Bielski, will present a summary of anti-Semitic incidents around the world in 2005, what is expected for 2006, and ways of dealing with problematical incidents.

For the first time, the United Nations decided to recognize January 27th as the international day to commemorate the Holocaust, 61 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.

In light of the increase in racist and anti-Semitic incidents around the world, events will take place throughout the world on January, 27th to mark the fight against anti-Semitism and racism.

The press conference will take place on Thursday January 26th at 12:30pm at Beit Agron, 37 Hillel St., Jerusalem, with the participation of Avraham Hirchson, Minister of Tourism and Communications and the Minister for Israeli Society and the World Jewish Community; Zeev Bielski, Chairman of the Jewish Agency; Amos Hermon, who holds the anti-Semitism portfolio in the Jewish Agency.

Download PowerPoint presentation: Anti-Semitism 2005 -major trends

For further information please contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
Jewish Agency for Israel
Cell: 052-6130220
Voicemail 02-6202780
michaelj@jafi.org