SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE-EUROPE
Tel: +33(0)1 47 23 76 37
Fax: +33(0)1 47 20 84 01
Mail: csweurope@gmail.com
Paris
In a letter to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel (pictured), the Simon Wiesenthal
Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, expressed amazement at reports of a German plan, “To visit Iran in October, to m
ark the signature of the G5+1 nuclear accord,” adding, “We are especially astonished at news that the delegation mayfeature the Berlin Staatskapelle, led by its musical director, Daniel Barenboim.”
The letter pointed out, “Last week, Iranian Parliamentary Advisor on Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador to Syria, Hussein Sheikholeslam, stated, 'Iran will continue to reject the existence ofany Israeli on earth... Israel should be annihilated and this is our ultimate slogan'.”
Samuels stressed, “Apparently, visas for October are in process. Should Barenboim be accepted as an 'Israeli on earth,' it would underscore Tehran's ironic view of him as an anti-Israeli,”adding, “Barenboim, in 2013, informed Die Zeit newspaper, 'I have four passports: Israeli, Argentinian, Spanish and Palestinian. If I want to, I canlive in all four countries.' Die Zeit asked: 'Is Jerusalem home to you?' He responded: 'No, I am at home here in Berlin',” noting that there seemedtherefore to be no obstruction to his entry.
The Centre lamented: “Nevertheless, and with due respect, Madam Chancellor, such a delegation could serve only those seeking to damage the strategic friendship between Israel and Germany underyour leadership.”
The Centre urged the Chancellor to, “Reject reports of this mission to Tehran and, above all, this cultural embellishment – under the cover of music – of Iran's constantly declared nucleargenocidal design to destroy Israel.”
“Barenboim has a penchant for reincarnating terror among Holocaust survivors by introducing Hitler's favourite composer, Wagner, into his performances... Should he choose to present 'The Ring' inIran, the scenario of 'Gotterdammerung' may well be perceived by the Ayatollahs as a benediction,” concluded Samuels.
For further information, please contact Shimon Samuels at 00 33 6 09 77 01 58, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter feed.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agenciesincluding the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).
