threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The world must stand strong against the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.

The German president Steinmeier expressed his "deepest sorrow" for the Holocaust while warning that the "spirits of evil" are re-emerging in the form of modern anti-Semitism.

"I wish I could say that we Germans have learnt from history once and for all. But I cannot say that when hatred is spreading."

A global survey by the US-based Anti-Defamation League in November found that global anti-semitic attitudes had increased, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe, over the last several years.

The damning report also found that large percentages of people in many European countries think the Jewish population talk too much about the Holocaust.

Among the sombre events which took place on Thursday wasthe dedication of a monument honouring the veterans and victims of the siege of Leningrad.

The presidents of Italy and Ukraine were in attendance alongside the Kings of Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Some 10,000 Israeli police officers were deployed to the streets Thursday morning with swathes of the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv closed as world leaders touched down.

The event has, however, dredged up unresolved issues from the Second World War as well as tensions within the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

President Duda turned down an invitation to the conference, expressing anger that Poland would not be permitted to speak alongside the representatives of Russia, France, Britain, the United States and Germany.

Israeli organisers had said only the four World War Two allies, and Germany, would address the gathering.

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