For Immediate Release
Toronto, October 25, 2001… On the eve of Foreign Minister John Manley’s trip to the Middle East, B’nai Brith Canada questions the addition to the itinerary of Iran, a country that provides support to terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Rochelle Wilner, National President, commented: “We trust Mr. Manley will bear in mind that it is Israel which is the true coalition partner in the fight against terrorism. The other countries on his agenda give succour to terrorists at the same time as they pay lip service to the struggle against them. We hope that Mr. Manley will take this opportunity to strengthen Canada-Israel relations, give Israel moral support in its efforts to quell the terrorist organizations that threaten it, and press Yasser Arafat to fulfil his commitments to end the violence.”
Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President, expressed concern as to the human rights records of the Arab regimes that Mr. Manley will visit. “We hope Mr. Manley will bring up human rights issues during his visits, especially the issue of the Israeli soldiers missing in action (MIA’s). Israelis held captive by terrorist groups in the region, whether civilian or in uniform, are entitled to the full protection of the international community, but these men have been denied visits by the Red Cross and their families still do not know whether they are dead or alive. We ask Mr. Manley to demand that his interlocutors supply him with this information as a prerequisite to any serious joint discussion on the anti-terrorist front.”
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For further information call Ruth Klein at (416) 633 6224 ext 111
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