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Posted by Al Gordon on 19:51:01 2004/10/22
In Reply to: Can'dn Islamic leader supports killing all Israelis posted by Al Gordon
CJC condemns call to murder Israelis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO October 22, 2004 Canadian Jewish Congress is appalled by recent public comments made by Mohammed Elmasry, national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, suggesting that all Israelis over the age of 18 are valid targets for terrorism.
During the October 19 episode of Michael Coren Live, host Michael Coren asked Elmasry, So everyone in Israel irrespective of gender, over the age of 18 is a target? to which Elmasry responded, Yes, I would say. Elmasry specified, They are not innocent if they are part of a population which is [the] total population of Israel
This is precisely the kind of view that all right thinking Canadians find abhorrent, said Ed Morgan, CJC national president. Elmasry clearly and calmly expresses the view that all Israelis over the age of 18 regardless of who they are or what they have done - are fair game for murder. Their nationality is apparently their crime.
Morgan noted that Elmasry s comments were not limited to Israelis living in Israel. The same logic that endorses targeting Israeli civilians in their home country might equally apply to Israelis visiting Taba, Egypt, or Mombasa, Kenya, or Buenos Aires, Argentina, or, for that matter, Montreal or Toronto.
Our multicultural society requires that this kind of endorsement of violence against a national group be censured by Canadians of all stripes. We have confidence that fair-minded Canadians, both in and out of the Muslim community, will speak out against these views and in support of the kind of tolerance for which Canadians are known, Morgan added.
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For more information contact:
Ron Singer
National Communications Director
Canadian Jewish Congress
613-233-8703
Wendy Lampert
Communications and Public Affairs Director
CJC Ontario Region
416-631-5844
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