Canwest News Service, Thursday, January 8, 2009

Canadian Jews condemn Gaza attack

Jordana Huber, Canwest News Service

TORONTO - Physicist Ursula Franklin and pianist Anton Kuerti were among a group of Jewish Canadians speaking out against Israel Thursday morning.

The group said the bombing of the Palestinian population in Gaza was a "horrendous" assault and they called for an immediate ceasefire and a lifting of the blockade of Gaza.

"Israel's behaviour makes me ashamed of being a Jew and Canada's servile support of the United States' position that it is all Hamas's fault makes me ashamed of being a Canadian," Kuerti said.

Franklin said Israel's actions were a "betrayal" of a generation that attempted to learn from the consequences of the Holocaust.

"Never again didn't mean no Jews should ever be in a concentration camp. The never again meant no human being should ever be again in a position that power can determine their lives and there are some people who do not matter," she said.

Also on Thursday morning, police in Montreal removed about 15 anti-Israel protesters from outside the Israeli consulate in Westmount Square.

Mostafa Henaway, a spokesman for the group Tadamon!, said the protesters were occupying the office to protest Israel's military actions in Gaza.

On Thursday night, rallies in support of Israel are being planned for Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal.

"We're expecting about 4,000 people in Toronto," said organizer Sally Szuster. "This is a rally in solidarity for the people of Israel who are being hit by these missiles."

Judith Deutsch, the president of the group Science for Peace said people opposed to Israel's actions will also gather Thursday night outside the synagogue where Toronto's Jewish community is planning a rally.

A candle light vigil to "denounce the latest Israeli crimes and to demand that the Harper government end their unconditional support for Israel," is also being planned in Mississauga by Palestine House.

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Back Top