Jewish leaders backtrack on anti-Semitism charge, EU Politix, January 8, 2004 "Jewish leaders have performed a spectacular about turn on their accusations that the European Commission is anti-Semitic. The President of the governing board of the World Jewish Congress Israel Singer flew overnight from New York in a bid to smooth the water between the European Commission and the Jewish Community. Sent by the presidents of the World and European Jewish Congress, the gesture clears the way for the Brussels chief to resume immediate preparations for a seminar aimed at tackling racism in Europe. Edgar M Bronfman and Cobi Benatoff had enraged Prodi by branding the commission anti-Semitic, prompting the president earlier this week to halt plans to host the seminar. “Anti-Semitism can be expressed in two ways: by action and inaction. Remarkably, the commission is guilty of both,” they wrote in FT Europe on Monday. But following a “friendly and fruitful” meeting with Singer, Prodi said the matter had been “fully resolved on a basis of corporate and mutual trust.” “We are resuming the preparations for a seminar. We are closing an episode,” said the commission chief. Singer was at pains to stress to journalists that the WJC had had “full trust” in Prodi’s commitment to tackle the problem of anti-Semitism from the outset. Although failing to explain exactly why the article had been written in the first place, Singer underscored the WJC's belief that the European Commission would address the problems in Europe “frontally” and “effectively.” Both the WJC and EJC presidents will meet personally with Prodi before the seminar takes place. Singer confirmed that the “specifics, dates, and programmes” had been discussed in today’s meeting. But all sides agree that discussions at the seminar will be tough. Tension between the Jewish Community and the EU escalated in November following the publication of an EU poll which showed that 59 per cent of Europe’s citizens viewed Israel as the biggest threat to world peace."