E/CN.4/1996/72 page 39 State to protect them, and because they manifested pacifist tendencies, which led them for centuries to resist defending themselves. Although Jews were everywhere an uprooted and unprotected minority, conspiracy theories based on The Protocols claimed, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, that they were a harmful force in the life of the countries in which they resided and that they aspired to economic domination. No amount of factual data disproving these ideas sufficed to convince those who claimed to believe them. Contemporary conspiracy theories found in far right circles assert that Jews are trying to dominate the world by strengthening the United Nations. 6. The term anti-Semitism was reportedly coined in 1879 by the German agitator Wilhelm Marr to refer to contemporary anti-Jewish campaigns in Europe. Some historians distinguish between groups that temporarily adopted anti-Semitic attitudes and those founded with the express purpose of fighting "Jewish influence". But it is clear that for centuries the leaders of Western, Central and Eastern Europe used anti-Semitism for political purposes. In recent decades anti-Semitism has targeted Jews for their support of democracy and pluralism. 7. The storm of anti-Semitic violence, culminating in genocide, let loose by the rise to power of the Nazis in Germany was unequalled in modern history. But a variety of developments over the last hundred years indicates that anti-Semitism has played and continues to play a role in the politics of modern Europe as a whole. These include the Dreyfus affair in France and, far worse, the pogroms in Tsarist Russia, followed by the virulent anti-Semitism of both the White Army and Stalin (though Lenin expressed contempt for Tsarist inspired anti-Semitism). Troubling more recently are post-Cold War manifestations of anti-Semitism in Central and Eastern Europe, even though the Jewish communities in those countries have virtually disappeared. Equally disturbing, European colonial officials, travellers, and sometimes missionaries brought their prejudices with them to Latin America, Africa and Asia. Fortunately, the current Pope John-Paul II has recognized the dangers of this trend and taken steps to reverse it, and noted Church authorities have withdrawn their endorsement of a Catholic version of the Bible which contains anti-Semitic commentaries. At the same time, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America has forthrightly repudiated the anti-Semitic pronouncements and writings of Martin Luther. 8. Nevertheless, the last few years have seen a rise in reported expressions of anti-Semitism, including Nazi type swastika daubings, but also hate propaganda on radio and television and the new and sophisticated phenomenon of cyberspace messages of hate. Even more frightening, acts of violence against Jews and Jewish property have also been on the rise, including physical assaults, arson, and terrorist bombings resulting in many deaths in many parts of the world, great psychological distress and economic hardship. The bombings and shootings in North America, South America, and Europe appear to be the work of both neo-Nazi elements and Islamic extremists. 9. Recognition of the need to combat anti-Semitism has come from the Conference (later Organization) on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe. In 1993 the former added anti-Semitism to the mandate of the CSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the latter, at its Vienna meeting, identified anti-Semitism as a social evil and adopted a plan