Jewish leader in Canada wants crack down on Hezbollah demonstrations in Canada
Michael Hammond - CP VIA StopLying.ca August 11, 2006
OTTAWA (CP) - The vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada says his organization wants police forces and the federal government to crack down on pro-Hezbollah demonstrations.
Frank Dimant says the streets of Canada should not be taken over by extremists supporting a known terrorist group. He said his group has been in talking to police forces and government officials to target the rallies.
"The streets of Canada will not be taken over by radical Islamic forces supporting terrorist activities," he said Wednesday. "B'nai Brith Canada will do its utmost to ensure that Canadians will not be intimidated by these terrorist sympathizers."
Mohamed Elmasry, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, said Jewish groups need to tone down their rhetoric and focus their efforts on urging a ceasefire in Lebanon.
"We are living in a liberal democracy where opposing voices to an overseas conflict is acceptable as long as they are peaceful," he said. "There is no need to call on authorities to crack down on demonstrations."
Elmasry said he hopes a growing number of people in the Jewish community will call for peace as the number of casualties mounts.
"Jewish organizations should be pro-peace," he said. "There's been too much death, destruction and misery."
The Christians United for Israel coalition and Jewish groups are calling for a national day of prayer on Aug. 20 in support of Israel and peace in the Middle East.
Charles McVety, president of the Canada Christian College, said it's time for Christian leaders to drop their neutral stances and stand by Israel, the birthplace of their religion.
"It's time for us to throw off this garment of false neutrality and stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish friends," he said. "Each of us must find a way to support Israel in its time of need."
Alan Baker, Israel's ambassador to Canada, says it is unfair to say Israel is deliberately targeting civilians. He said his government is taking every measure it can to avoid the loss of innocent life, but said Hezbollah is shielding itself behind innocent people.
"Any civilian that's not involved in terror who's harmed, whether it's Israeli, Lebanese or Palestinian, is for us tragic and even a failure," Baker said.
He criticized opposition party members who have joined anti-war protests that have included Hezbollah sympathizers who have worn the group's colours.
Hezbollah rockets, Baker said, are being aimed at Israeli civilians and causing vast ecological damage to biblical forests in the north of Israel. It will take 60 years for these areas to come back, he added.
Baker said Israel only targeted a Beirut power plant when its armed forces learned that Hezbollah was using it to launch missiles into Israel. That strike caused a major oil spill, which has killed countless fish and birds in the area.
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