THIS IS NO TIME TO WAFFLE ON TERRORISM

Canada should show unequivocal support for sister democracy

October 30, 2001

For Immediate Release

Toronto, October 30, 2001… On the eve of John Manley’s visit to Israel as part of a whirlwind tour of the region, B’nai Brith Canada urged the Foreign Minister to make his convictions on fighting terrorism crystal clear. Earlier in the week, comments attributed to Manley in the Ottawa Citizen and Montreal Gazette made a spurious distinction between the terrorists who attacked America on September 11^th and terror operatives who attack Israeli targets on an ongoing basis. These comments were widely seen as a troubling departure from traditional Canadian positions that would call into question the government’s stated objectives of countering terrorists worldwide, whatever their provenance.

Mr. Manley’s subsequent comments in Tehran, Damascus and Beirut were a bid to influence these governments to discourage groups in their jurisdiction from using violence as a political tool against Israel. However, given that these regimes actively support terrorist organizations, providing them with financial, logistical and moral support to carry out these attacks, Manley’s comments — while welcome — can have little impact on those with terrorist agendas in the region.

“We call on Mr. Manley to state unequivocally that Canada is firmly committed to the fight against terror wherever it exists,” stated Rochelle Wilner, National President of B’nai Brith Canada. “Whether the attacks are perpetrated against the U.S., Israel or any other country in the world, there can be no doubt where Canada stands if it is to be a serious player in anti-terror initiatives. This is no time to waffle on terrorism.”

Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President, commented: “There is obviously concern that Mr. Manley’s comments on his departure from Canada this past weekend will be judged as equivocation and prevarication in order to court highly doubtful partners for the coalition against terrorism. It is only fitting that he set the record straight when he meets with Israel’s leaders tomorrow by telling them that Canadians support the Israeli people in their daily battle against terror just as they support the victims of terror against the US.”

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For further comment contact Ruth Klein, National Director, Institute for International Affairs at (416) 346-0114.

B’nai Brith has been active since 1875 as the community’s senior human rights advocacy organization.