02/05/2018 (Agence Europe) – The spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said that the speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on 30 April contained “unacceptable” remarks concerning the origins of the Holocaust and Israel's legitimacy. In a press release she warned that “Such rhetoric will only play into the hands of those who do not want a two-state solution, which President Abbas has repeatedly advocated”. Mr Abbas declared that the Shoah was the result of financial activities by Jews and not of anti-Semitism. The EEAS spokesperson said that “Antisemitism is not only a threat for Jews but a fundamental menace to our open and liberal societies” and that the European Union remains committed to combat any form of anti-Semitism and any attempt to condone, justify or grossly trivialise the Holocaust. (CG)