WEF apology over 'Israel boycott'

The WEF wants to "foster dialogue" in the Middle East

The founder and executive director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) has apologised after an in-house article called for a boycott of Israel.

The piece was in Global Agenda, given to WEF members at its 2006 annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Klaus Schwab said the article was "totally in contradiction to my own, and the Forum's, mission and values".

He said the forum was "deeply involved" in efforts to create better relations in the Middle East and round the globe.

'Appropriate steps'

"As soon as I learned about this article, I immediately investigated how this situation could have developed," he added.

"I concluded there was an unacceptable failure in the editorial process, specifically an insufficiently short period for review of content - for which there is no excuse.

"I, on behalf of the Forum, profoundly apologise and express my regrets to everyone. I can assure you that appropriate steps have been instituted to ensure that this will never happen again."

He said the forum would do all it could to foster dialogue and open communication among all parties, "based on mutual respect and recognition, and not on confrontation".