B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin spoke to an audience of BBUK leadership in London about the continued and disturbing attacks and accusations against the Jewish state throughout the world. In his compelling talk, Mariaschin highlighted the Goldstone report and recent flotilla “fact-finding mission” facilitated by the U.N. Human Rights Council as biased and vilifying Israel.“These episodes illustrate a growing phenomenon—that the demonization and delegitimization of Israel has become a daily occurrence. Israel’s enemies repeatedly accuse it of being a Nazi-like occupier and an apartheid state that disenfranchises the Palestinians. Falsehoods about Israel are repeated so often that they become widely accepted in the popular culture and sometimes impact government policy.” Mariaschin said during his speech.

Mariaschin also focused on the Iranian infiltration of Latin America and the global movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel. He also discussed the efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to combat anti-Semitism and define a blueprint for fighting anti-Israel statements and demonstrations.

Mariaschin closed by emphasizing the need for an unrelenting stance in the fight to defend Israel: “As we gauge our progress in this battle, we must commit ourselves to sustaining the forward momentum of the global fight against anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. All of us who cherish pluralism and human rights must dedicate ourselves to a simple imperative: that complacency and passivity in the face of bigotry can no longer be tolerated.”

As part of his London visit, Mariaschin met with the BBUK public policy branch, the London Bureau for International Affairs, leaders of the British Jewish community, and for meetings at the British Foreign and Commonwealth office.