Posted On 11/08/11
TORONTO, November 4, 2011 – B’nai Brith Canada has reacted with the following statement to news of the interception by the Israeli navy of two international ships, including a boat carrying 12 Canadians intent on breaking the maritime security blockade imposed by Israel on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
Frank Dimant, CEO of B’Nai Brith Canada, stated, “Israel was clearly justified in enforcing its naval blockade against such inflammatory provocation. Its right to enforce the blockade has been confirmed to be in compliance with international law by a recent report of the UN, a body which is not known for being supportive of Israel’s positions. It is essential to remember the rationale behind the blockade. The Gaza Strip is run by Hamas, an Iran-funded terrorist organization, recognized as such by the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Israel. Given that rockets continue to rain down on Israel from Gaza, the blockade is a critical security tool.
“Israel specifically offered to facilitate the unloading of medical goods aboard the ships at its port in Ashdod for transportation by land, yet anther indication that this latest attempt to run the blockade is simply an attempt at propaganda.
“Considering that no flotilla has been launched to highlight the plight of 3,000 Syrians killed by their own government or that of the Coptic Christians facing ongoing persecution in their homeland of Egypt, this should be recognized as the exercise in hypocrisy that it is. Canadian Foreign Affairs, which has stated that there can be no protection offered to Canadians who choose to break international law and the laws of other democracies, is to be commended for its ongoing stance against terrorism and those seeking to support it by any means.”
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For more information, please contact Anita Bromberg, National Director of Legal Affairs, at (416) 315-9438.
B’nai Brith Canada has been active in Canada since 1875 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights agency