UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced support for the fight against anti-Semitism, saying the world body has as a duty to speak out on this matter and prevent it, a media report said.

“Our efforts to build a world of mutual understanding are being severely tested today by rising extremism and barbaric acts,” Ban said while delivering a video message to an informal meeting of the United Nations General Assembly Thursday that was prompted by growing anti-Semitism attacks in Europe, Xinhua reported.

“Jews remain targets, as do Muslims and so many others,” said Ban, recalling the Holocaust, which killed millions of European Jews.

“Grievances about Israeli actions must never be used as an excuse to attack Jews. In the same vein, criticisms of Israeli actions should not be summarily dismissed as anti-Semitism,” he added.

This only suppresses dialogue and hinders the search for peace in the Middle East conflict, he said.