ADL confirms Greenblatt won’t attend Israeli antisemitism conference over participation of far-right Europeans

The Anti-Defamation League confirms that CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has backed out of an upcoming Israeli conference on combating antisemitism to protest the inclusion of far-right European politicians.

“In light of some of the recently announced participants at the Israeli government’s antisemitism conference, Jonathan decided last week that he would no longer be attending the event, and he notified the Israeli government about the decision after the weekend,” an ADL spokesperson says.

Many are concerned that participation in the conference helps provide legitimacy to several populist parties, many of which have histories of racism and antisemitism.

Other people who have announced they will not attend the conference in Jerusalem next week include British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, UK government adviser on antisemitism Lord John Mann, and veteran academic and activist David Hirsh. Several French and German figures have also said they will no longer attend.

The conference guest list includes Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right French National Rally party founded by noted antisemite and Holocaust denier Jean-Marie Le Pen; Marion Marechal, a far-right French member of the European Parliament and Le Pen’s granddaughter; Hermann Tertsch, a far-right Spanish member of the European Parliament; Charlie Weimers of the far-right Sweden Democrats party; and Kinga Gál, of Hungary’s Fidesz party.