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Last update - 17:15 30/04/2008
U.S. Jewish leaders call for boycott of Beijing Olympics
By The Associated Press
Tags: U.S. Jews, China 

A wide-ranging group of U.S. Jewish leaders plans to release a statement Wednesday urging Jews worldwide to boycott the Summer Olympics in Beijing, citing China's troubling record on human rights and Tibet.

The statement also notes China's close relationships with Iran, Syria and the militant group Hamas.

So far, 175 rabbis, seminary officials and other prominent Jews have signed the declaration, which comes shortly before Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday, organizers said.
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"We are deeply troubled by China's support for the genocidal government of Sudan; its mistreatment of the people of Tibet; its denial of basic rights to its own citizens; and its provision of missiles to Iran and Syria, and friendship for Hamas," the statement reads.

"Having endured the bitter experience of abandonment by our presumed allies during the Holocaust, we feel a particular obligation to speak out against injustice and persecution today."

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, past chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, said signers are not alleging that the Chinese government is the equivalent of the Nazi regime, but that China, like Germany in 1936, is trying to use the Olympics as a public relations tool to deflect attention from its record.

The declaration was organized by Greenberg and Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of New York - both Orthodox Jews - and the Washington-based David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.

Several representatives of Judaism's major U.S. branches and large Jewish institutions signed on. They include Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism; Neil Goldstein and Richard Gordon of the American Jewish Congress; and Rabbi Joel Meyers, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Assembly, an association of Conservative rabbis.

The statement seizes on Olympic organizers' plans for a kosher kitchen at the Olympic Village, where athletes stay. Greenberg characterized the move as an attempt to lure Jewish tourists by presenting an image of sensitivity.

"I would say in principle, athletes and tourists and governments should all draw the same conclusion to this," Greenberg said. "Unless the Chinese make some significant corrections, they should not participate."

Meyers said he hopes the declaration is interpreted as a call for Israel and Jewish athletes worldwide to boycott the games, although he doubts such a boycott will come to pass.

"It would be good if that happened," Meyers said. "(But) I know Israel has political ties to China, and does business with China. It presents a somewhat awkward issue for Israel.

Related articles:
  • U.S. exhibit on 1936 Berlin Olympics echoes current debate
  • U.S. Jews urge Bush to boycott opening of Olympics over Darfur
  • Israel's Olympic Cmte. head slams attempt to boycott Beijing games
  • Yossi Sarid / Only force, not spirit, will prevail

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      1.   Great--we don`t want them anyway 02:51  |  beijing0808 30/04/08
      2.   i`m still waiting israel 03:00  |  VIPER 30/04/08
      3.   I personally won`t be watching China olympics on tv 03:03  |  Mikey 30/04/08
      4.   China 03:35  |  Michael 30/04/08
      5.   Israel = China / Gaza = Tibet 03:38  |  *BEN JABO 30/04/08
      6.   A very very very long bow 04:05  |  Wally 30/04/08
      7.   Palestine=Tibet 04:34  |  Dovy 30/04/08
      8.   Badly handled. Do these "Jewish Leaders" have followers? Doubtful 05:10  |  Dr. L. Brnd 30/04/08
      9.   fake leaders 05:23  |  gary hess 30/04/08
      10.   Discgraceful 05:27  |  The Hague 30/04/08
      11.   YOu must be joking 05:32  |  hezbeleb 30/04/08
      12.   so boycott israel too 07:38  |  Ivan 30/04/08
      13.   Jewish Leaders Want Jews to Boycott Olymics 07:51  |  Lynne 30/04/08
      14.   A critical time in Wall Street 07:52  |  Mike 30/04/08
      15.   I am sick to my stomach 08:03  |  A.Z.O. 30/04/08
      16.   Jewish Leaders Want Jews to Boycott Olymics 08:05  |  Shosha 30/04/08
      17.   Wow! Look at the responses so far! 08:11  |  Slibovitz 30/04/08
      18.   Now for some sense 08:18  |  Slibovitz 30/04/08
      19.   It`s A Good Decision To Boycott The Olympics! 08:55  |  Laguna Geno 30/04/08
      20.   But Israeli and Israelis are Pro-Occupation! 09:01  |  Danny Zimmerman 30/04/08
      21.   Olympic Boycott 09:06  |  Louis 30/04/08
      22.   Preserving Tibet culture is worth it!!! BRAVO 09:19  |  LEBJOE 30/04/08
      23.   it`s time for Israel to do sth. 09:23  |  Tzion 30/04/08
      24.   what? 09:39  |  ayboday 30/04/08
      25.   HEY IDIOTS: Do some research first.... 09:53  |  David 30/04/08
      26.   US Zionists: Olympic champions in Hypocrisy 10:46  |  Chanalau, Tova 30/04/08
      27.   We should not interfere,we have enough of our own proglems 10:58  |  Chanalau,Tova 30/04/08
      28.   Israel has no fight with the Chinese 10:59  |  Chanalau,Tova 30/04/08
      29.   Israel has friendly relationst with the Chinese 11:02  |  Chanalau,Tova 30/04/08
      30.   "China`s close relationship with Iran, Syria and Hamas." Yep... 11:02  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      31.   Israel is a damocratic state,and can decide for itself 11:04  |  Chanalau,Tova 30/04/08
      32.   US Jewish leaders should Butt out. 11:06  |  Chanalau,Tova 30/04/08
      33.   Israel doesn`t need to prove anything to anyone 11:12  |  *BEN JABO 30/04/08
      34.   Israel is a democracy in a rotten neighbourhood 11:16  |  *BEN JABO 30/04/08
      35.   Totally Vexed 11:44  |  Tongluren 30/04/08
      36.   Israel has a lot in common with China,both are brainiacs 11:56  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      37.   Olymics are for sportmen ,not politicians 11:58  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      38.   Israeli`s are good sportsmen,and should go and enjoy 12:01  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      39.   I wish the Israeli teams the best of luck 12:02  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      40.   No.35 Tongluren no need to be vexed 12:08  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      41.   #36 #37 #39 #40 FAKE! 12:37  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      42.   The health status of boycotting rabis 12:49  |  PARIS 30/04/08
      43.   Anyone with a brian can see that No.41 is fake 13:52  |  Maureen Ann 30/04/08
      44.   No41 Maureen Ann what`s up 13:59  |  Chanalau,Tova 30/04/08
      45.   To response #22, LEBJOE 14:21  |  sandra chitayat 30/04/08
      46.   David Sassoon notwithstanding... 14:27  |  sandra chitayat 30/04/08
      47.   So 11 million Jews 14:56  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/04/08
      48.   Jewish leaders 14:57  |  Gershon Ron 30/04/08
      49.   HaHa, This is a joke article right? 15:25  |  Paul 30/04/08
      50.   Shosha #16 15:35  |  George Kaplan 30/04/08
      51.   Zionist lie, fake and cheat even in Talkback 15:36  |  Chanalau, Tova 30/04/08
      52.   Boycott Estee Lauder and Israel 15:43  |  beijing0808 30/04/08
      53.   Apology for crimes by Iraqi Jews 15:47  |  beijing0808 30/04/08
      54.   Idiots Meddling... 15:50  |  Ari Cohen 30/04/08
      55.   Apology to Mr. or Miss Tungluren 15:54  |  Gershon Ron 30/04/08
      56.   Beyond Chutzpah 16:17  |  DetainThis 30/04/08
      57.   Israel in Trouble? Play the China Card! 16:24  |  DetainThis 30/04/08
      58.   What about the London 2012 olympics guys? 16:43  |  Harvey (Chaim) 30/04/08
      59.   GOOD RIDDENCE, the world will be a better place without them 16:48  |  vanBel 30/04/08
      60.   #16 Shosha 17:46  |  TurkishJew 30/04/08
      61.   helene mayer 17:49  |  Rob of melbourne 30/04/08
      62.   what about the human rights in Palestine? 18:08  |  kaled 30/04/08
      63.   And when will they call for a boycott on Israel? 18:17  |  Deborah 30/04/08
      64.   Whenever the heat is on Israel.......... 18:21  |  Deborah 30/04/08
      65.   Deborah Boycotted Thinking Eons Ago 18:36  |  Tex 30/04/08
      66.   a new day 18:49  |  Not in my name 30/04/08
      67.   Palistine=Tibet 19:03  |  mike 30/04/08
      68.   Israel and Jewish leaders need mirrors 19:27  |  candida 30/04/08
      69.   Where were these Jewish leaders ... 19:37  |  Axel 30/04/08
      70.   dovy 20:13  |  steve 30/04/08
      71.   Jewish Hypocrits 20:44  |  Fred 30/04/08
      72. &