Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center Encouraged by Norwegian Cruise Line's Decision to Cancel All Calls to Tunisia

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 11, 2014) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is encouraged by Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) decision to cancel all calls to Tunisia and to not return to the country following the government of Tunisia's blatant discrimination against Israeli passengers; Tunisian authorities refused to permit Israelis on board to disembark along with all other cruise passengers when the Norwegian Jade docked in the Tunisian port of La Goulette this past Sunday.

"This blatant discrimination against Jewish Israelis is outrageous and alarming, and requires the strongest and clearest response that antisemitic prejudice will not be condoned, no matter where it occurs," said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. "My friends who happened to be on this cruise were horrified to learn of the bigoted and abusive treatment of their fellow passengers, and it is to the cruise line's credit that it has responded so swiftly and appropriately to this incident," he added.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is a leading Canadian non-profit human rights foundation directly representing over 30,000 members. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and its widely acclaimed new Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles, which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca.