Catholic Church equates anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent 9 July 2004
www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=449338

The Catholic Church condemned anti-Zionism as a cover for anti-Semitism by
means of a joint statement issued by a forum of Catholic-Jewish
intellectuals this week.

The announcement was made at a gathering of religious, academic and other
leading Jewish and Catholic figures in Buenos Aires.

"We oppose anti-Semitism in any way and form, including anti-Zionism that
has become of late a manifestation of anti-Semitism," the statement said.

This is the first time that anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism have been equated
by the Catholic Church.

The statement also includes a stern condemnation of terrorism, particularly
terror in the name of faith.

"Terror is a sin against man and against God. Fundamentalist terrorism in
the name of God has no justification and cannot be justified."

Ilan Steinberg, director of the World Jewish Congress, one of the forum's
organizers, described the joint statement as "an historic moment."

"For the first time, the Catholic Church recognizes in anti-Zionism an
attack not only against Jews, but against the whole Jewish people."

Senior Jewish figures called the announcement a significant, public
statement of support by the Catholic Church in the face of anti-Zionism.

"In the past, Zionism was equated with racism, and this statement turns
anti-Zionism statements to a form of racism," a Jewish leader said in New
York.

The statement joins a prior European Union announcement and UN declaration
of war against anti-Semitism as part of a global front fighting the scourge.