UN chief warns of anti-Semitism rising amid Covid-19 pandemic

Antonio Guterres spoke at the online event to receive the Theodor Herzl Award, which the World Jewish Congress (WJC) presents each year

Antonio Guterres spoke at the online event to receive the Theodor Herzl Award, which the World Jewish Congress (WJC) presents each year. AP

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Monday warned of a "steady stream of prejudice" against Jews during the coronavirus outbreak, as he received an award from a global Jewish body.

The UN secretary-general said "age-old blood libels" against Jews had been "given new life" amid the pandemic, as Jewish people and other minorities were falsely accused of spreading the pathogen.

"In recent months, a steady stream of prejudice has continued to blight our world: anti-Semitic assaults, harassment and vandalism; Holocaust denial; a guilty plea in a neo-Nazi plot to blow up a synagogue," said the UN chief.

Mr Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, spoke at the online event to receive the Theodor Herzl Award, which the World Jewish Congress (WJC) presents each year to those who support Israel and tackle anti-Semitism.

The UN chief also reiterated his call for global ceasefires during Covid-19 and urged long-feuding Israelis and Palestinians to "start again towards the goal of two states, living side-by-side in harmony and peace" next year.

Presenting the award, Ronald Lauder, a cosmetics billionaire and president of the WJC, said Mr Guterres had tackled the UN's "bizarre fixation" on Israel and did not "bow to the pressure of those who seek to isolate, demonise and delegitimise the only Jewish state in the world".

Past recipients of the prize include US President-elect Joe Biden, German chancellor Angela Merkel, former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Washington's ex-UN envoy Nikki Haley and former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger.