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Dutch Jews louder than Muslims in condemning 'Fitna' film
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Tags: Jews, Muslims, Koran 

THE HAGUE - Ironically, Dutch Jews are more outspoken than local Muslims in their criticism of the newly released anti-Islam film by rightist legislator Geert Wilders, says Dr. Ronny Naftaniel, head of the pro-Zionist Center for Information and Documentation (CIDI).

Last Friday, hours after the film's online release, CJO, the Jewish community central board of which CIDI is a member, condemned the footage as generalizing and counterproductive to the fight against extremism. The board described parts of the film as unacceptable, adding it had crossed the line of legitimate criticism.

By contrast, Yusuf Altuntas of CMO, a body that facilitates contact between Muslims and the government, said that by releasing the film - which is entitled "Fitna" (Arabic for "strife") - "Wilders is testing the limits of acceptability, but hasn't gone beyond them."
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The Muslim community's response - which the Dutch media described as "calm" - was to say the film is not religiously insulting to Islam, and that they had anticipated more offensive content. The government's fears of rioting never materialized.

"They [the Muslim community] are afraid. They have been told by the Dutch government to keep quiet and be wise about this issue, and that's what they want to do," Naftaniel told Haaretz on Monday in CIDI's four-story headquarters near the American embassy.

"I was surprised by the silence of the local Muslim leaders," Naftaniel added. "If I were a Muslim, I would speak out and I would blame Wilders for this film. I wouldn't stop shouting about it. I don't understand their silence, I really don't. I think they are scared."

A spokesman for CMO told Haaretz that although the Muslim community had not taken to protesting the film in the streets, the umbrella group for Dutch Muslims does condemn it.

The 15-minute film, which drew millions of viewers since its release Thursday, contains footage of Muslim clerics and protesters calling for the slaying of Jews, verses from the Koran, videos from scenes of suicide bombings and executions, illustrations of the demographic increase in the number of European Muslims and archive material from the Dutch media about Islamic terrorism-related incidents.

Naftaniel says that even though he feels the Dutch Jewish community is more at liberty to criticize "Fitna" than the Muslim community, "the only thing which may prevent many Jews from criticizing this film is that they consider Wilders very pro-Israeli and that they don't want to annoy him."

After the Jewish community condemned the film, CIDI received several angry calls from members who objected to the criticism. "Some even wanted to leave our organization, but I really think that what he did was wrong," he said.

Naftaniel stressed that it's not the criticism of Islam that prompted him to condemn the film, but the linking of that criticism of Koran-inspired violence with the demographics. Naftaniel said that is tantamount to suggesting all Muslims are terrorists.

CIDI's founder says he was particularly offended by angry reactions to the Jewish condemnation of "Fitna." These reactions, which came mainly as reader responses to online articles about the condemnation, accused the Jewish community of trying to appease the Holland's Muslims.

"We are never afraid to speak out in the harshest of terms against what we think is wrong, be it against Muslim extremism here in the Netherlands, or the Dutch or Israeli governments," he said. "But this movie portrays all Muslims as The Enemy. And this is just not true."

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      1.   The Dhimmis Have Spoken 02:39  |  massaraksh 02/04/08
      2.   nothing like covering one`s keister 02:52  |  natan 02/04/08
      3.   Jews Muslims Are Cousins 02:53  |  Fadel 02/04/08
      4.   dutch jews.... 02:55  |  ljf-canada 02/04/08
      5.   Naftanielis an idiot. 03:11  |  Edifice 02/04/08
      6.   Dutch Jews vs Fitna and Muslim Reaction 03:23  |  Roland 02/04/08
      7.   Jews were last to condemn Nazis also 03:26  |  Liberalism is mental 02/04/08
      8.   Once again Jewish level headed opinion 03:46  |  Avrum 02/04/08
      9.   Dutc h Jews - Silent When Israel is Defamed 04:24  |  Tod Zuckerman 02/04/08
      10.   Fitna is offensive 04:27  |  Marty E. 02/04/08
      11.   As loud as their fear 04:41  |  Fortuna Benmayor 02/04/08
      12.   To Tod Zuckerman 05:02  |  Roland 02/04/08
      13.   Fitna 05:04  |  amr 02/04/08
      14.   Brotherhood, Shalom,Rumi 05:06  |  Hasan 02/04/08
      15.   fadel #3 05:12  |  Aussie Eli 02/04/08
      16.   The religion of fear 05:20  |  Joseph . E 02/04/08
      17.   Islam is a very peaceful religion 05:21  |  H. Rosan 02/04/08
      18.   Nu, whats new? 05:26  |  Trotzky 02/04/08
      19.   Thought you should know..... 05:27  |  Jack Smith 02/04/08
      20.   The film is so stupid that it is beneath contempt 05:28  |  Kevin 02/04/08
      21.   Fact 05:33  |  Andhika 02/04/08
      22.   And why not? 05:38  |  Mark Lincoln 02/04/08
      23.   Self-Hating Jews 06:09  |  Scott Geller M.D. 02/04/08
      24.   Real Jews 06:12  |  abi zaid 02/04/08
      25.   Dutch Jews louder than Muslims in condemning `Fitna` film 06:33  |  Douglas Kazdoy 02/04/08
      26.   they should have kept quiet 06:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 02/04/08
      27.   Propaganda in Action 06:36  |  Natallie Durson 02/04/08
      28.   No insult FROM Religious Perspective 07:09  |  Truth 02/04/08
      29.   Silence is Golden 07:19  |  Astrid 02/04/08
      30.   God gives guidance to whoever he choses 07:20  |  Mian Ahmed 02/04/08
      31.   Just scared 07:35  |  dan 02/04/08
      32.   # 17 Rosan and verse 8:39 07:39  |  Kevin 02/04/08
      33.   # 22 Mark Lincoln 07:45  |  Truth 02/04/08
      34.   Fitna 07:49  |  Alfredo 02/04/08
      35.   to Andhika 08:25  |  George 02/04/08
      36.   The proof 08:42  |  Angel 02/04/08
      37.   Kevin sees people beheaded, calls it `stupid` 09:12  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08
      38.   Jewish struggle against "Fitna" 09:13  |  Someone 02/04/08
      39.   what was/is/would be your reaction 09:14  |  simpi 02/04/08
      40.   Lincoln says close your eyes to evil and it will go away 09:21  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08
      41.   Fadel we don`t claim your land: you have huge territories 09:23  |  x-ray 02/04/08
      42.   BBC is offensive 09:36  |  Joe 02/04/08
      43.   Naftaniel wears a swastika 09:39  |  Darin Weiss 02/04/08
      44.   JEWS IN EUROPE WERE ALWAYS SMARTER 09:49  |  indrajaya 02/04/08
      45.   SMART JEWS, logical and non biased 09:55  |  VIPER 02/04/08
      46.   freedom of speech 09:58  |  jon 02/04/08
      47.   to 3 10:08  |  Harry 02/04/08
      48.   They are scared. Hypocrites 10:10  |  Laila 02/04/08
      49.   Proof: Israel does not speak for World Jewry 10:32  |  Chanalau, Tova 02/04/08
      50.   Indra - CIDI is the Center for Documentation&Information Israel 10:34  |  Jeroen de Jager 02/04/08
      51.   Dutch Jews louder than Muslims 10:38  |  Ralph 02/04/08
      52.   @3 Fadel 10:43  |  Ralph 02/04/08
      53.   why shouldnt Jews condemn it??? 10:47  |  Israeli4Peace 02/04/08
      54.   We the Dutch Jews aren`t scared - but we condemn hatemongering 10:49  |  Jeroen de Jager 02/04/08
      55.   The work of Zionists 10:54  |  Atoo 02/04/08
      56.   # 46, JEROEN DE JAGER 10:55  |  indrajaya 02/04/08
      57.   Euro-Muslims 10:59  |  Joseph 02/04/08
      58.   Tears of joy filled my eyes as I learned about the Holy Koran 11:43  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/04/08
      59.   the film in question 11:50  |  Davka 02/04/08
      60.   fitna 11:52  |  dag hammerskold 02/04/08
      61.   the Jews protest 11:53  |  Davka 02/04/08
      62.   I need to express my... 12:08  |  Edith 02/04/08
      63.   It is not true that the film is not insulting 12:19  |  Edith 02/04/08
      64.   #9 Israel simply is a very complex... 12:22  |  Edith 02/04/08
      65.   I also need to say that... 12:31  |  Edith 02/04/08
      66.   To please those who hate ... 12:48  |  Edith 02/04/08
      67.   # 63, EDITH 12:50  |  Indrajaya 02/04/08
      68.   reply to fadel 13:09  |  alain 02/04/08
      69.   Dutch Jews? 13:15  |  DM 02/04/08
      70.   #54 Jeroen de Jager 13:17  |  Sarah 02/04/08
      71.   Oh Jesus 13:18  |  Angel 02/04/08
      72.   Dutch Jews are Smart 13:19  |  MiddleStanian 02/04/08
      73.   Chanlau, Tova 13:23  |  Sarah 02/04/08
      74.   Dutch politicians are doing the shouting on behalf of muslims 13:24  |  Benjamina 02/04/08
      75.   # 44 JEWS IN EUROPE ALWAYS SMARTER? 6,000,000 DEAD JEWS?SMARTER? 13:27  |  petra 02/04/08
      76.   Natallie 27 13:35  |  Rani Habelgi 02/04/08
      77.   To Jeroen de Jager 13:47  |  American Christian 02/04/08
      78.   Scott Geller 13:47  |  Nadia 02/04/08
      79.   Movie is mumbo jumbo 13:51  |  Ofer Maimon 02/04/08
      80.   Dutch Jews? 13:59  |  DM 02/04/08
      81.   NO ONE 14:01  |  Niki 02/04/08
      82.   To Nadia 14:01  |  American Christian 02/04/08
      83.   I Saw the Film-It`s a Hatchet Job 14:06  |  Jane 02/04/08
      84.   #28 Truth. 14:13  |  examiner 02/04/08
      85.   To Davka, not one million 14:21  |  Teddy 02/04/08
      86.   Margie in Tel Aviv to M.L 14:21  |  examiner 02/04/08
      87.   The reason the Muslims are quiet is because they like it !! 14:29  |  Jew 02/04/08
      88.   # 3 Nice post but 14:36  |  CM 02/04/08
      89.   No such thing as bad publicity 14:40  |  Aphemia 02/04/08
      90.   to Indrayaya 14:41  |  Harry 02/04/08
      91.   Examiner the film reported events but showed no caricatures. 14:47  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08
      92.   Margie in Tel Aviv 15:13  |  examiner 02/04/08
      93.   American Christian 15:16  |  Nadia 02/04/08
      94.   Dutch Muslims calm 15:22  |  Yonatan 02/04/08
      95.   #3 Fadel - So your prophets are "Jewish..kings"? 15:27  |  Yonatan 02/04/08
      96.   #5 Edifice 15:29  |  Yonatan 02/04/08
      97.   #10 Marty E. 15:35  |  Yonatan 02/04/08
      98.   Misuse of Koran 15:47  |  Question Mark 02/04/08
      99.   the trick didnt work so con damn it 15:58  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      100.   Islam is not the problem 15:59  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 02/04/08
      101.   To Nadia 15:59  |  American Christian 02/04/08
      102.   DUTCH JEWS And FITNA 16:15  |  Rich 02/04/08
      103.   FITNA visually iterates old addage-as practiced by many a Moslem 16:36  |  Just Common Sense 02/04/08
      104.   To Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 16:45  |  American Christian 02/04/08
      105.   #22 Mark Lincoln 17:19  |  Oetis 02/04/08
      106.   #98 Question Mark 17:21  |  Yonatan 02/04/08
      107.   #100 Shlomo from T-A 17:28  |  Yonatan 02/04/08
      108.   Islam is the only faith that GOD chose to his servants 17:40  |  reza SHAH 02/04/08
      109.   To Jewish community trying to appease the Holland`s Muslims. 17:40  |  olim 02/04/08
      110.   Examiner your comment applies equally to all religions 17:42  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08
      111.   Dutch Jew`s` reaction 17:54  |  Dr. Louis 02/04/08
      112.   #22 Nail on the head, Mark 18:14  |  Ben Alofs 02/04/08
      113.   Fitna 18:21  |  Bruce 02/04/08
      114.   Margie in Tel Aviv 18:35  |  examiner 02/04/08
      115.   #106 Yonatan 18:39  |  Question Mark 02/04/08
      116.   to roland 18:43  |  TAZ 02/04/08
      117.   un-fitna 19:19  |  rob 02/04/08
      118.   Dutch Jews 19:20  |  Brant 02/04/08
      119.   # 27 Durson 19:36  |  ernie 02/04/08
      120.   Dutch Jews trying to earn brownie points 19:40  |  Walter 02/04/08
      121.   # 108 - Sorry - not true - 19:44  |  Walkabout1 02/04/08
      122.   Facts are Facts. Fitna displays facts, blame the speakers 19:55  |  David 02/04/08
      123.   to #71 Angel, this is what you choose not to know about Islam 20:06  |  Zaki 02/04/08
      124.   to my fellow Muslims, let`s not forget 20:17  |  Zaki 02/04/08
      125.   Zaki well done: 20:29  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/04/08
      126.   Hasan from Dallas #14 20:55  |  David Israel 02/04/08
      127.   we are 1.5 billion Muslims, who will love you, if 20:58  |  Zaki 02/04/08
      128.   Responses to American Christian and Yonathan 21:20  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 02/04/08
      129.   # 7 Liberalim is mental.Jews were last to condemn Nazis also 21:27  |  KATHY 02/04/08
      130.   #8 Avrum..If you think you are sdafe in Canada think again.. 21:30  |  KATHY 02/04/08
      131.   fitna movie and Dutch Jews 21:42  |  Dyna Chrome 02/04/08
      132.   #26 Cipora J.K...I Agree and ask:Where Is Shoshana Thomasson? 21:46  |  KATHY 02/04/08
      133.   #72 MiddleStanian..A Question.What are The Number Of Muslims .. 21:57  |  KATHY 02/04/08
      134.   #127 Zaki, you are right on 22:08  |  Fast Spin Echo 02/04/08
      135.   #74 Benjamina Dutch politicians are doing the shouting on behalf 22:08  |  KATHY 02/04/08
      136.   to Zaki no127 IF 22:10  |  Tina 02/04/08
      137.   27#natalie Durson 22:16  |  Alon 02/04/08
      138.   # 122 David 22:22  |  Bob 02/04/08
      139.   I`m a FORMER supporter of CIDI now 23:02  |  Chris 02/04/08
      140.   Critical, post-modern examination 23:04  |  Scharker Yid 02/04/08
      141.   # To All Zakis Posts ** Very Good. But,Could you Please.. 23:05  |  KATHY 02/04/08
      142.   To Alon re Natalie 23:08  |  Lee 02/04/08
      143.   To be perfectly honest, the film didn`t show 23:18  |  Lynn 02/04/08
      144.   #27 23:19  |  joelle 02/04/08
      145.   #138, Bob, I very clearly understand propaganda vs facts 23:21  |  David 02/04/08
      146.   In film, Muslim clerics calling for beheading of Jews 23:28  |  Lee 02/04/08
      147.   On this film... 23:40  |  Hamoudi 02/04/08
      148.   fitna 00:12  |  ahmat 03/04/08
      149.   # 113 Bruce Excuse me,Jews in Saudi Arabia? You must be Joking.. 00:55  |  KATHY 03/04/08
      150.   FITNA 01:50  |  The Monk 03/04/08
      151.   Dutch Jews have more exposure to reality (nt) 02:20  |  David King 03/04/08
      152.   It can`t be claimed that Fitna isn`t factual. 02:29  |  Chaim 03/04/08
      153.   # 108 the Iranian please read the book!! 02:49  |  Abdul Aziz 03/04/08
      154.   #54, JEROEN, right on 02:49  |  VIPER 03/04/08
      155.   Dutch Jews blast film 03:52  |  leven5 03/04/08
      156.   jewish condemnation of "fitna" 04:12  |  abdul hajee 03/04/08
      157.   ALL JEWS SHOULD FIND FITNA OFFENSIVE! 05:52  |  jon 03/04/08
      158.   153 abdul albatikh aziz 05:59  |  reza SHAH 03/04/08
      159.   Very well said Shlomo! 06:34  |  AbuKenza 03/04/08
      160.   fitna 06:53  |  pushkina 03/04/08
      161.   if the media would tell our story too 06:58  |  Zaki 03/04/08
      162.   NO WAY THE FILM IS GOOD 07:44  |  Michael 03/04/08
      163.   #114, examiner 08:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/04/08
      164.   to # 32 Kevin 08:55  |  H. Rosan 03/04/08
      165.   REALITY Check, pls help me here! 09:36  |  Mojshe 03/04/08
      166.   to # 10 Marty E 11:24  |  Dik 03/04/08
      167.   #154 12:32  |  Fierce snake 03/04/08
      168.   #122, David. Particular representing the general 12:44  |  zmogus 03/04/08
      169.   #100 Big kiss for Shlomo from Tel Aviv 12:49  |  Edith 03/04/08
      170.   #169 BIG HUG to Edith for her big kiss to Shlomo 16:18  |  Kevin 03/04/08
      171.   Muslims should also defend Jews when extremists spread lies 20:21  |  TurkishJew 03/04/08
      172.   #161 Zaki 20:37  |  TurkishJew 03/04/08
      173.   Absolutelty Not a misuse of coran 21:23  |  trumpeldor 03/04/08
      174.   Dutch Jews louder than Muslims in condemning `Fitna` film 22:51  |  Lani Rosen 03/04/08
      175.   jews have nothing to fear from muslims? 23:02  |  Christian 03/04/08
      176.   IT WAS NOT A FILM... BUT AN UNPROFESSIONAL CUT AND PASTE JOB 12:27  |  TripleJump 04/04/08
      177.   Muslims in the Netherlands DID VEY WELL IGNORING that idiot 12:32  |  Daniel 04/04/08
      178.   Boohoo 04:08  |  M. Ruth 06/04/08
      179.   Roland 12:24  |  Dhimmitude Suks 06/04/08
      180.   And what about the rest? 22:51  |  Fradi Ze`eb 06/04/08
      181.   # 177 Daniel the Muslims have already 23:19  |  petra 06/04/08
      182.   Thanks to our Dutch cousins, it is inspiring 22:17  |  A. Shaikh 08/04/08
      183.   Muslims keeping quiet 01:27  |  Helen 09/04/08
      184.   Stop Racist anti-Arab, anti-Muslim ads! Sad irony they`re here 12:06  |  Honest Jew 10/04/08
      185.   a set of clippings by an opportunist 18:00  |  peter 10/04/08
      186.   "FITNA"IS THIS A WAKE UP CALL?? 17:09  |  LILA 13/04/08
      187.   fitna 10:23  |  Ray 15/12/08
      188.   Fitna 10:30  |  Ray 15/12/08
      189.   It`s not Islamophobia . . . 03:48  |  Sally 17/12/08
      190.   # 17 Rosan and verse 8:39 22:41  |  mike 12/02/09
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