As the State of Israel marked the 60th anniversary of its founding, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) made an unequivocal statement against anti-Semitism but also urged full recognition of the rights of the Palestinians.

US-based Jewish groups have praised a Vatican declaration that it will consider the elimination of a prayer of conversion that exists in the Catholic Church's traditional Latin Mass, and that has caused much offence.

Inciting racial and xenophobic hatred is now a crime across the European Union. But Britain's law is tougher and includes religion, Holocaust denial was not specified, though it is illegal in some countries.

Independence from those who claim to represent the country's diverse Jewish community is being declared today, by a group of prominent British Jews, both, secular and relgious. In particular, they raise concerns about an uncritical stance on the policies of the state of Israel.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spiritual head of the world's 77 million Anglicans, has denounced the political manipulation of the Nazi Holocaust for current political ends, and has called for a renewed struggle against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms.

As a record 5,300 events take place across Britain this weekend to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2007, organisers and supporters are warning about complacency over whether “it could happen again”.