For Immediate Release
Toronto, January 11, 2002 — A card issued by Topps trading card company in its new "Enduring Freedom" series depicts Arafat donating blood for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack on the US. Considering the ongoing terrorist atrocities against Israeli civilians by groups aligned with Arafat and connected to the perpetrators of the September 11 atrocity, the Topps decision has been called the "height of bad taste and an insult to victims of terror everywhere”.
Amos Socheczevski, National Chair of B’nai Brith Canada’s Institute for International Affairs, commented: “Topps has publicly endorsed what can only be termed as a public relations stunt by Arafat to convince the world that he is an opponent of terrorism. Considering his long association with terrorism as a political tool and his current inability or refusal to rein in terrorists operating freely from areas under his control, this glorification is outrageous. Is Topps suggesting that Arafat is praiseworthy for expressing support for victims of terror against the US, while at the same time, he and his lieutenants can incite and facilitate violence against Israeli victims with impunity?”
Ruth Klein, National Director of the Institute, added: “Trading cards are commonly used to provide role models for our youth, but what has Arafat’s contribution to "Enduring Freedom" been and on what basis is he depicted as humanitarian or worthy of being a role model? What has he done to deserve that title when his rule has been marked by corruption and intimidation of his own people? Naturally a trading card company operates for profit rather than on the basis of principle, but to make money from this card is immoral.”
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For further comment call Amos Sochaczevski at (514) 995 2375.
B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.
Its Institute for International Affairs was established to monitor human rights abuses worldwide.
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