The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) has seen its biannual Standing Committee meeting cancelled on short notice after a Bosnian minister claimed the gathering would “legitimise” the “genocidal” state of Israel.
The event, which was set to attract around 50 mainstream religious leaders including the chief rabbis of France, Germany and the UK, was due to be held at the Swisshotel in Sarajevo next week.
However, the hotel sent an email to the CER earlier today saying it would cancel its booking based on “recent developments and significant public attention related to the upcoming event”.
These “recent developments” are believed to include the publication of an open letter by Adnan Delic, Bosnia’s minister of labour and social policy, in which he claimed the event would “legitimise” the state of Israel, which he described as a “genocidal creation”.
Posting the statement to his Facebook profile, he wrote: “Sarajevo must not be a stage for supporting genocide.
"As a man living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as someone who believes in the values of truth, justice and dignity of every human being, I express my strongest protest against the announcement of holding the European Conference of Rabbis on June 16-18 in Sarajevo.
"It is illogical, deeply unacceptable, and even morally insulting, that in Sarajevo, a city that has survived the longest siege in modern European history, a city where children are killed, hospitals are bombarded and markets bombarded, is organising a gathering to send support to the occupier who, in front of the whole world, commits genocide against to the innocent civilian population of Gaza.
“This conference, announced as a "message of peace", is in essence an attempt to send a message of legitimisation of one genocidal creation and their shameful acts of crimes against humanity from Sarajevo. This is directly opposite to everything that Sarajevo is and what it has stood for throughout history.
"We must not allow Sarajevo to be a place that justifies genocide. Sarajevo has always been and always will be on the right side of history; on the side of justice and human dignity. Sarajevo is on the side of Gaza.”
The CER does not have any formal links with the state of Israel and the event was not set to discuss the Middle East or host any Israeli delegates.
Instead, it was due to bring hundreds of rabbis together to discuss the status of the Jewish community in Europe and the application of halachic law in the modern day.
However, in its email confirming the cancellation, seen by the JC, the hotel appeared to suggest that Delic’s comments had been a factor in the decision, writing: “Following recent developments and significant public attention related to the upcoming event, we are unfortunately unable to proceed with hosting the conference at our venue.
“In light of the current circumstances and based on the information and instructions from the authorities, with the aim of ensuring the safety of all participants and protecting our staff and property, we must cancel all previously agreed arrangements. The amount paid in advance will be refunded promptly.”
The event has now been moved to Munich under the auspices of the Bavarian government, which is a key financial backer of the conference.
Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the CER’s president and former chief rabbi of Russia, said: “No other Bosnian Government official has contacted the CER. We have been made unwelcome and this last-minute, ministerial boycott of Jewish European citizens dedicated to purely to promoting Jewish life in Europe and furthering dialogue and democracy across the continent is disgraceful.
“CER events foster dialogue, boost interfaith activity, and promote public engagement. It is Sarajevo’s loss.
“This decision to block a European-Jewish conference on European soil is not only alarming, but also revealing.
“It is a clear violation of EU commitments and values... Bosnia and Herzegovina should certainly be cancelled and barred from accession to the European Union following this disgraceful castigation of a European faith group. Sarajevo has proclaimed itself a ‘city of openness and tolerance’ for anyone but Jews.”
Commenting on the announcement, the UK’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said: “The appalling antisemitism displayed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which prompted the cancellation of this Conference of European Rabbis event, which I was due to participate in, is a cause for deep concern.
“Today, Jewish communities around the world are increasingly being targeted and marginalised, as part of the broader campaign of demonisation against the State of Israel. There can be no justification for such shocking hatred.”
The JC has contacted the Swisshotel in Sarajevo for comment.
