For immediate release

NCCAR Expresses Disappointment in Stéphane Dion's Statement

Ottawa - May 28, 2007 – The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations' President, Bahija Réghaï issued the following statement today in response to Stephane Dion's May 25th statement on the violence in Gaza:

"The Opposition Leader's statement last Friday displayed a complete lack of sensitivity to the complexity of the crisis in Gaza and an unbalanced perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in general.

Mr. Dion chose to focus mainly on the right of Israelis to live in safety and security at a time when thousands of Gazans are suffering as a result of twelve consecutive days of Israeli military strikes.

We are saddened by the death of two innocent Israeli citizens and the countless innocent Palestinians caught in the crossfire.

We are particularly concerned by Israel's illegal arrest and detention of over fourty members of the Palestinian Government and democratically-elected legislature.

Mr. Dion's statement is unbalanced and regrettably quite consistent with his predecessor's who declared that Israel's values are Canada's values.

The “independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state” Mr. Dion refers to will not emerge under military occupation and violence. The Liberal Leader's statement is representative of a double standard used against Palestinians.

NCCAR is deeply dismayed by the lack of responsiveness on the part of the Liberal Party. This will not go unnoticed by Canadians who expect fairness and balance from their elected representatives.” 

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NCCAR Executive Director: Samah Sabawi, (613) 238-3795, samah(at)nccar(dot)ca.