For Immediate Release
Toronto, June 14, 2002…Human rights activists at B’nai Brith Canada are dismayed that the Emergency Resolution on the Middle East passed at the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Convention in Vancouver puts Palestinian terrorist bombings against Israeli civilians on the same moral level as Israeli military action to counter these attacks. In fact, the resolution first condemns “the violence perpetuated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian lives and property” and calls on the Israeli government “to cease its military aggression”, and only then goes on to “similarly condemn Palestinian suicide bombings”.
Joel Cuperfain, Chair of B'nai Brith's Israel Affairs Committee, stated: “The CLC Executive Committee and Council claims that it recognizes Israel’s right to defend its citizens against suicide bombings and yet this resolution clearly contradicts that notion by calling Israel’s anti-terror campaign ‘military aggression’. It fails to acknowledge that areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority are used daily to plan and implement premeditated terror attacks specifically designed to inflict maximum death and destruction on Israeli civilians, especially the most vulnerable. This is like asking the Americans — and their Canadian allies — not to respond to 9/11 to preempt further attacks against them.”
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For additional information contact:
Joel Cuperfain at (416) 434-1462
B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.
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