NEW YORK — World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder today expressed grave concern about the joint statement issued by 28 countries on the Israel-Hamas war, warning the statement could be exploited to fuel false claims that endanger Jewish communities worldwide. Amb. Lauder said:
“The World Jewish Congress is troubled by the language used in this joint statement and the ways in which it may be misused to promote misleading narratives about Israel. Such narratives are often co-opted by actors seeking to delegitimize the Jewish state and justify hostility toward Jewish communities far from the region of conflict.
“While criticism of Israeli policies is legitimate, and we of course appreciate the call for the unconditional release of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, distorting the reality on the ground can serve as a springboard for those promoting antisemitic agendas. We have seen how these distortions, when left unchecked, can result in real-world threats to Jewish individuals and institutions.
“The World Jewish Congress remains deeply committed to human dignity for all, which makes it all the more urgent to resist distorted rhetoric that inflame division rather than promote genuine solutions.
“We urge the signatory nations to consider the broader impact of their words and to take care in ensuring that their public statements do not unintentionally advance false narratives that put Jewish communities at risk.”
About the World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.