February 25, 2007

CIC PRESS RELEASE

UN Report Likens Israel to Apartheid South Africa but Canadian papers censored or suppressed the story

Several national Arab and Muslim organizations today condemned major
Canadian newspapers for ignoring or sidelining coverage of an independent
UN-commissioned report that links Israel's 40-year occupation of the
Palestinian territories to apartheid South Africa.

South African law professor Dr. John Dugard, the report's main author, said
"Israel's laws and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories
certainly resemble aspects of apartheid" and that there should be "serious
consideration" given to bringing the situation to an international court of
justice.

But in Canada, the National Post censored the news story by not publishing
it at all, while both the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star ran it on inside
pages, abridged to about 100 words.

The Canadian Islamic Congress, Canadian Arab Federation and Canadian Muslim
Forum are jointly urging that "Canadian newspapers strive to achieve
professional excellence by being fair and balanced."

By contrast, Britain's The Independent covered the story fully in
yesterday's edition, featuring it on the front page and providing a link to
the full report:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/4session/A.HRC.4.17.pdf

After describing the oppressive situation for Palestinians in the West
Bank, where closed zones, home demolitions, lack of road access and
frequent army incursions have disrupted all aspects of normal life, Prof.
Dugard asked: "Can it seriously be denied that the purpose ... is to
establish and maintain domination by one racial group (Jews) over another
racial group (Palestinians) [by] systematically oppressing them? Israel
denies that this is its intention or purpose. But such an intention or
purpose may be inferred from the actions described in this report."

Prof. Dugard dismissed Israel's argument that the sole purpose of the vast
concrete and steel West Bank barrier is for security. "It has become
abundantly clear that the wall and checkpoints are principally aimed at
advancing the safety, convenience and comfort of settlers," he said.

Prof. Dugard said his mandate was solely to report on human rights in the
occupied Palestinian territories; in fact, he described the firing of
rockets by Palestinians from Gaza into Israel as a violation of
international humanitarian law. "Such actions cannot be condoned and
clearly constitute a war crime," he said. "Nevertheless, Israel's response
has been grossly disproportionate and indiscriminate and resulted in the
commission of multiple war crimes."

The CIC, CAF and CMF unanimously agree with the balance and fairness
expressed in Prof. Dugard's report. "All Canadians are being shortchanged
and detoured away from the truth when information like this is ignored or
suppressed," the joint communiqué concluded.

Today's communique is endorsed by Al-Huda Muslim Society, Al Ansar Islamic
Centre and Toronto's Muslim Unity Group representing Canada's largest
mosques.


CONTACTS:

ENGLISH

Dr. Mohamed Elmasry, CIC
(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
E-mail: np@canadianislamiccongress.com

Mrs. Wahida Valiante, CIC
(647) 802-8024 (Cell)
E-mail: nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com

Khaled Mouammar, CAF
(416)879-6766 (Cell)
E-mail: benwalid@rogers.com

FRENCH

Dr. Bachar Elsolh, CMF
(514) 983-5323 (Cell)
E-mail: belsolh@fmc-cmf.com

Mohamed S. Kamel, ing., CMF
(514) 863-9202 (Cell)
E-mail: mskamel@fmc-cmf.com