European Jewish Association demands apology from EU over ‘antisemitic paper’ on Abramovich
The document, obtained by Jerusalem Post, states that the Russian Jewish oligarch 'found nothing wrong to benefit from the annual slaughter of 300,000 pigs.'
The European Jewish Association is demanding an apology from the European Union and a retraction of a “clearly antisemitic paper” which discussed Russian Jewish oligarch Roman Abramovich.
“Like most oligarchs, Abramovich is part of the Jewish Russian minority, which, as a result of the latent antisemitism in the Soviet Union and its exclusion from many public and security-related leadership functions, formed informal networks,” the EU Working Paper stated, according to Jerusalem Post.
“Abramovich, as the main shareholder of Omsk Bacon, found nothing wrong to benefit from the annual slaughter of 300,000 pigs. Yet he also followed Yeltsin’s and later Putin’s instructions to finance a Hadissic counter-organisation against the Russian Jewish Congress, which founded by Gusinsky in 1996 had in their view become too powerful as an internationally well-connected lobby,” the document continued.
Alexander Benjamin, Vice-Chairman (Advocacy) of the European Jewish Association, called on the EU to issue a “clear and public apology at the highest EU Institutional level.”
“Let us be clear at the outset, we do not seek to defend Mr. Abramovich or his business interests… However…his religious affiliation…is mentioned at all. That his stated religion is demeaned and judged…makes it antisemitic, pure and simple. All of this, we remind you, in an Official European Union Working Paper, not some populist or xenophobic rag, but an official EU document.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.