ADL takes no action on Armenian genocide

By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff

NEW YORK -- The national Anti-Defamation League tonight rejected calls from within its own ranks to unequivocally acknowledge the Armenian genocide, after its top official insisted his remarks calling the World War I era massacre "tantamount to genocide'' were misinterpreted.

In a statement issued tonight, the National Commission of the Anti-Defamation League said it had "decided to take no further action on the issue of the Armenian genocide.''

Massachusetts-based members of the ADL and local Armenian-Americans had urged the national group to acknowledge the genocide, after ADL head Abraham Foxman had described the deaths as "tantamount to genocide'' earlier this year.

Foxman said tonight that he told the ADL gathering that his remarks were misinterpreted. The ADL met behind closed doors for more than three hours Friday afternoon to discuss the matter.

Despite their earlier calls for a clearer statement, Massachusetts representatives said tonight they were pleased with the outcome of the meeting.

•  Previous Entry
• Next Entry 

MOST E-MAILED

1. Harvard ignored warnings about investments
2. Episcopal role OK'd in gays' weddings
3. New England sending a crowd to climate talks
4. Boston brewer pushes new limits on extreme beer
5. Narcolepsy research triggers myriad brain studies
6. Living in Unity
7. Object lessons from the Afghan quagmire