Anti-Semitism Talks To Go Ahead

A bitter row between Jewish leaders and the European Commission seems to have been resolved, reopening the path for high level talks on anti-Semitism in Europe. The dispute arose after the president of the World Jewish Congress, Edgar Bronfman, and the president of the European Jewish Congress, Cobi Benatoff, published a letter accusing the European Commission of being anti-Semitic. The comments prompted Commission President Romano Prodi to suspend preparations for a seminar on anti-Semitism scheduled for February. But in an attempt to mend the rift, the chairman of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress, Israel Singer, flew overnight from New York to hold a meeting with Prodi. The meeting was described as "very friendly and fruitful" as both sides sought to play down the recent clash. Prodi is also expected to meet Bronfman and Benatoff in the next two weeks. The Commission president said the cooperation between the two institutions is "fully restored on the basis of a complete and mutual trust" and announced that the Commission will resume its preparations for the seminar on anti-Semitism. (EUobserver.com)