ECI Warns Europeans to: ’Learn from History’

Brussels, June 9, 2006 - On the first day of the FIFA World Cup in Germany, concerned Christians across Europe have joined forces to ensure that Holocaust-denying Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad nor his deputy will be allowed to attend.

Speaking at the launch of a new Brussels-based campaign website www.learnfromhistory.eu, Tomas Sandell from the European Coalition for Israel said:

”The Iranian president, like Hitler, employs the rhetoric of genocide and is busily arming himself with the weapons to carry it out. Now is the time for Europe's citizens to speak out loud and clear to say that neither Ahmadinejad nor his deputy are welcome here.”

Ahmadinejad says he won't come to the World Cup 

Brussels, May 31, 2006 – Citing “international pressure” Iranian president Ahmadinejad on Tuesday confirmed that he will not be attending the World Cup Football tournament in Germany which kicks off next  week Wednesday.

The European Coalition for Israel has been campaigning against the prospect of Ahmadinejad's visit since he stated his intention to visit Germany over a month ago. The ECI's lobbying efforts were to conclude this week with the launch of a high profile advertising campaign in Germany's mass circulation daily Das Bild Zeitung in Berlin, when the news broke.

Clear guidelines for EU-funding can help reform Palestinian society

Brussels, 4 May, 2006 – “The European Union has to take full responsibility for allowing corruption and mismanagement of European funds in the Palestinian authority, hence  creating an environment where terrorist groups like Hamas can thrive and win an election.” This was the message of Dr Jürgen Bühler of the European Coalition for Israel who spoke before a full auditorium in the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday. The funding dilemma for the European Commission – refusal to fund the Hamas lead government but a continuous commitment to support the Palestinian people – had created an unprecedented interest in the funding model with some 70 people in attendance, many of them Members of European Parliament, international diplomats or EU-officials.