Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center Commends Canada's Decision to Stop Voluntary Funding to UNESCO

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 1, 2011) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) commends the Canadian government's decision to halt $10 million in voluntary contributions to UNESCO after yesterday's vote by the organization to admit the Palestinian authority as a full member.

"The Canadian government should be praised for taking a swift and unequivocal stand regarding yesterday's decision by UNESCO, as FSWC remains convinced that admitting Palestine to a UN committee in a de facto attempt to recognize Palestinian statehood is completely detrimental to the peace process," said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. "The only way to achieve true peace and sovereignty for the Palestinian people is for Palestinian leaders to overcome 63 years of belligerence and admit Israel is the national homeland of the Jewish people. No UN resolution or decision can ever change that fact," he explained.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles commended Canada for once again showing true leadership on human rights issues and friendship for Israel.