31 May 2005

BERLIN - Israeli president Moshe Katzav warned on Tuesday that terrorist groups may be planning to use expanding neo-Nazi groups to carry out attacks in Europe.

Katzav, in a speech to the German parliament, expressed concern over "the growing legitimisation of neo-Nazi forces" which he said were "increasingly anchored in the German public."

"Let's not be surprised if terror organisations use neo-Nazis for carrying out terrorist attacks," said the Israeli president.

Katzav underlined that radical Islamist forces based in Europe were "in alliance" with right-wing and left-wing extremists fuelling both anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism.

"We are today witnessing a wave of resurgent anti-Semitism not seen since the end of the Second World War," said Katzav.

The number of anti-Semitic crimes rose in Germany last year to 1,346 reported cases, up from 1,226 in 2003, according to the German Interior Ministry. So far, however, there is little public evidence of links between Islamist terrorists and neo-Nazis in Germany.

"Every expression of neo-Nazi teachings must be fought in the beginning stages before it can spread and settle down," said Katzav in a apparent reference to the German far-right parties the National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) and the German People's Union (DVU).

A bid by Berlin to ban the NPD was struck down by Germany's highest court and both parties scored election victories last year, with the NPD winning seats in Saxony and the DVU in Brandenburg. Both states are in economically hard-hit eastern Germany where neo-Nazis and skinheads have had success recruiting members.

While welcoming moves to combat anti-Semitism in Germany and other European countries, Katsav bluntly told the German parliament that more needed to be done.

"The measures are indeed not enough. Laws and their enforcement are vital as well as education and public information," he said.

Katzav said Israel could never forgive the Holocaust.

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