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World Jewish News
Elena Bonner in Oslo: Anti-Semitism Augmenting in the West
19.05.2009
Russian human rights activist Elena Bonner, widow of Andrei Sakharov, has accused the Western countries of hidden anti-Semitism. Speaking at the annual Freedom Forum in Oslo, she criticized the approach of the EU and the United States to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In her speech, Bonner said that the Norwegians' view on Israel is very different from that of Sakharov, who used to say that "Israel has the unconditional right to exist," "has the right to exist within secure borders," "all the wars that Israel has led are justified, and have been forced by the irresponsible Arab leaders," "the money that was invested in the problem of the Palestinians could have been used to settle them and ensure their welfare in the Arab world," as "Grani.ru" reports.
Elena Bonner said that although the UN has recognized the Jews, who had to leave their homes in Arab countries, as refugees, it has not helped them. In the meantime, a special agency was created for assistance to the Palestinians, who are still considered refugees with all the rights already in the fourth generation. According to her, the attempt to make Israel recognize the right of Palestinian refugees to return, together with the principle of "two states for two peoples," means the desire to create two states, one initially "free" from the Jews, and second, where the Jews theoretically could appear to be a minority.
Addressing the human rights defenders, Bonner asked why they were not trying to force the Palestinian group "Hamas" to allow the "Red Cross" visit the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but were actively seeking permissions to visit the Islamic militants in "Guantanamo" prison. "I can not find another answer other than: Shalit is an Israeli soldier, Shalit is a Jew. So, again, conscious or unconscious anti-Semitism. Again, fascism," she believes.
Bonner also said that the first step towards peace must be the release of Shalit, and not in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, serving sentences for real crimes.
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