Posted on 05/31/2010 12:03:21 PM PDT by mdittmar
WASHINGTON, May 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today urged President Obama to condemn what the Muslim civil rights group called an Israeli "massacre" of civilians on a flotilla of ships in international waters seeking to bring humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. Israeli commandos killed at least 10 civilians in a pre-dawn raid on the flotilla.
Israel's attack on the flotilla has already been condemned by the international community.
SEE: Israeli Action Widely Condemned (LA Times)
Turkey, Germany, France Lead Condemnation of Israeli Ship Raid
A number of Americans, including former Ambassador Edward L. Peck, are among those taking part in the humanitarian aid effort. Other passengers include Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein and 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland. The nationalities of the dead are not yet known.
On Friday, CAIR's San Francisco Bay Area chapter (CAIR-SFBA) expressed concern for the safety of three local residents aboard the flotilla.
SEE: Bay Area Residents Aboard Gaza-Bound "Freedom Flotilla"
In a statement, United Nations officials said: "We wish to make clear that such tragedies are entirely avoidable if Israel heeds the repeated calls of the international community to end its counterproductive and unacceptable blockade of Gaza."
"It is imperative that President Obama not only speak out strongly against this massacre of civilians but also demonstrate our nation's outrage at Israel's brutal actions by taking concrete steps to end the humanitarian siege imposed on Gaza with America's support," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Our nation must now work to end the inhumane and illegal siege on Gaza."
Awad also urged the president to live up to his statement one year ago in Cairo in which he said that America will not turn its back on "the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own."
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CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com; CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Zahra Billoo, 626-252-0885, E-Mail: zbilloo@cair.com
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CAIR must condemn violins by “peace activists”.
Oh, I’m sure he will.
Gosh these Muslims are stupid. I hope that’s not mean-spirited or racist or whatever, but I mean come on. If Obama condemns Israel over this, he is messing with the bull on multiple levels, and he damn sure will get the horns.
...oh he’ll condemn Israel alright...what ever his Muslim brothers tell him to do is OK by him.
Another phoney pallywood massacre, brought to you by the liberal mainstream media.
How about we condemn the blockade runners who brutally stabbed IDF personnel?
Message to the Ay-rabbs: We don’t freakin CAIR!
I’d much rather see him “condemn” the sinking of the entire “flotilla” by the Israeli Navy. How ‘bout it Israel?
Too bad it was not a real massacre.
Yep, I can hear it now..."Let me be clear about this...Israel will be held accountable for this unprecedented...it's a game changer...blah, blah, blah"
Simple.
Order them to follow.
If they don’t sink them at minimal cost to the good guys, and that’s the end of the story.
CAIR, pack your bags and move to Gaza. We have no use for your terrorist supporting shenanigans.
Obama should back the nation that is the focus of terrorism constantly.
How about we condemn the Islamists and their fellow travelers who set this up with the intention of a violent confrontation with the Israelis complete with children and infants to be used as props and shields? How about we also condemn Obama for weakening the Israel/US alliance and encouraging Islamist supremacy and attacks on Israel?
Apartheid haunts Israel Innovation Wk » Gaza Freedom Flotilla building steam
Interesting flotilla...
Is this the one? The administration is waiting for the "facts".
violins? :)
It would be a long way to drag them but could we plug the hole in the Gulf of Mexico with the flotilla?
Gee, I suppose the drug-smuggler lobby will want him to condemn the Coast Guard if they open fire on the next gang of crooks who decide to resist a boarding party.
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