The UAE is closing down a think-tank that Israel and Jewish bodies accused of promoting anti-Americanism and "anti-Semitism."
An official said the future of the Abu Dhabi-based Zayed International Center for Coordination and Follow-Up - named in honor of UAE President Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan - will be up to its official sponsor, the Arab League. The UAE has funded and hosted the center since it opened in 1999, The Gulf News reported Monday.
"We are closing down the Zayed Center and ceasing its funding," the official added.
The think-tank was established with the aim of promoting Arab unity and has hosted such speakers as former US vice-president Al Gore and former US secretary of state James Baker.
The Zayed Center was hailed in recent years for its commitment to the environment and awarded cash prizes to renowned international figures, including former US president Carter.
However, the center also published claims that 9/11 attacks was a US plot, hosted a Saudi professor who alleged Jews used human blood to prepare "holiday pastries"; whose executive director said that "The truth is that the Jews are the enemies of all nations" and which released a press statement that declared "The Zionists are the ones who killed the Jews of Europe."
In the past, Mostafa Muhamed, the center's acting deputy director, has said it was neither anti-Semitic nor anti-American, but ready to listen to "any kind of views." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
