B’nai Brith Canada Calls on Government to Expel Lebanese Ambassador

Toronto, August 13, 2003

For Immediate Release

Toronto, August 13, 2003 …Rochelle Wilner, President of B’nai Brith Canada, today called on the federal government to expel Raymond Baaklini, Lebanon's Ambassador to Canada. This request followed remarks he made in a recent interview published in the weekly Arabic language newspaper Al-Mustakbal, in which he alleged control of this country’s media by certain pro-Israel elements of Canadian society.

“This is not an isolated incident,” said Wilner. “These comments mirror the ones he made last winter about Jewish control of the media in Canada. Even if he doesn’t use the word ‘Jewish’ this time round, we all know what he’s talking about. It's obvious that Mr. Baaklini learned nothing from his meeting with officials at DFAIT the last time he made offensive comments like this. He’s had his chance. Now it’s time for him to go back to Lebanon.”

“This is just another illustration of the deep seated prejudice against Jews emanating from Mr. Baaklini’s region of the world,” commented Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President. “The last time around, we were asked to accept that Baaklini’s comments were a one-time occurrence. Now we see a pattern emerging. Our government cannot allow foreign diplomats to fan the flames of antisemitism among Canada’s immigrant communities.”

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For further information contact: Joseph Ben-Ami, Director of Communications at 613-294-7313

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.