Jewish leaders yesterday called a truce in their dispute with the European Commission over anti-Semitism in Europe, writes Tim King in Brussels
The chairman of the governing council of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), Mr Israel Singer, met Mr Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, and the pair jointly appeared before the press to proclaim that "full co-operation between our institutions is fully restored on the basis of concrete mutual trust".
"We had full trust in President Prodi from the very outset," said Mr Singer, who lavished praise on the president.
Both sides were attempting to douse flames fuelled by an article in the Financial Times on Monday, written by Mr Edgar Bronfman, president of the WJC, and Mr Cobi Benatoff, president of the European Jewish Congress.
The article accused the Commission of action "reeking of intellectual dishonesty and moral treachery", saying: "Anti-Semitism can be expressed in two ways: by action and inaction. Remarkably, the European Commission is guilty of both."
The Jewish leaders complained first that the commission had censored a study from the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia which had suggested that Muslims and pro-Palestinians were behind many reported anti-Semitic incidents.
Secondly it complained that the commission had released a "dangerously inflammatory" opinion poll suggesting that most Europeans saw Israel as a threat to world peace.
In response to the article, Mr Prodi called off plans to hold a seminar to discuss anti-Semitism in Europe. But yesterday Mr Prodi announced: "We are resuming our preparations for the seminar. We are closing the episode."
Preferring to stress future co-operation Mr Singer offered no explanation as to why the WJC had launched its offensive against the Commission.
Mr Reijo Kempinnen, spokesman for Mr Prodi, said the visit of Mr Singer should be seen as "a symbolic gesture", which would permit both sides to concentrate on combating anti-Semitism.
Mr Singer said, "Mr Prodi has told us what he is going to do to ensure that every citizen in this continent feels as secure as he does," he said.