AJC, Partner Organizations Honor Holocaust Remembrance Day

On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the AJC Transatlantic Institute, the Mission of Israel to the EU and NATO, the European Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU co-organized an event titled "Holocaust Denial and Distortion". 

The event which was attended by almost 200 EU officials, Members of the European Parliament, diplomats, and civil society representatives featured opening remarks by Friedrich von Heusinger, Director of the Permanent Representation of the State of Hessen to the EU, and Haim Regev, Ambassador of Israel to the EU and NATO, who emphasized the need to combat Holocaust denial and distortion, as well as the spike of antisemitism that  that has plagued Europe since October 7. 

In a keynote speech European Commission Vice-President Magaritis Schinas highlighted the EU's contribution to fighting Holocaust denial and distortion both on- and offline. Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan recounted the many meetings over the years with officials from Prime Ministers and Presidents, Governors, Mayors and University Presidents in which they promised to combat antisemitism, and he pointed out the need to follow-up on such promises with concrete action.

The main part of the remembrance event was a panel discussion between Daniel Schwammenthal, Director of the AJC Transatlantic Institute, Katharina von Schnurbein, EU Commission Coordinator for Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, and Yohan Benizri, World Jewish Congress Executive Board Member, which was moderated by journalist Daniel Steinvorth. The discussion focused on the connection between modern and ancient antisemitism, the difference between legitimate criticism of Israeli policies, and antisemitism, and antisemtism in Belgium. 

Yad Vashem's exhibition "Flashes of Memory" on photography during the Holocaust was displayed at the event and drew much interest from the guests.