. . . Arthur Stark, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, issued the following statement:
“We welcome the announcement by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity that the appallingly antisemitic Carnival of Aalst, which occurs annually in Aalst, Belgium, has been removed from UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
The unabashed and reprehensible Jew-hatred that has been displayed at this carnival, including shocking representations of age-old antisemitic tropes, is particularly odious in a climate of rising antisemitism worldwide. Such an egregious exhibition of hate cannot possibly be considered ‘cultural heritage,’ and we appreciate UNESCO’s recognition of this fact.”
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