Self-Styled Israeli Group Concerned with Israel’s Legitimacy
Friday, 19 August 2011
The Media Review Network (MRN) is appalled that a self-styled “Israel advocacy organisation” calling itself Group 18 has set up in South Africa to “pro-actively” address concerns amongst Jews that “insufficient action” was taken to protect “Israel’s right to exist”.
We note with alarm that it has invited controversial American radio/TV host, Glenn Beck to address a meeting in Cape Town.
Beck, known for his provocative views on Islam and Muslims, may possibly spark a fresh round of 42in his eagerness to defend Israel’s violation of human rights.
MRN is aware that most pro-Israeli propagandists usually rely on demonising Islam and Muslims in their lobbying exercise on behalf of the apartheid regime. We note however, that progressive Jewish organisations have distanced themselves from Group 18. In particular we appreciate the sentiments of Nathan Geffen who described Beck’s host as “a right-wing lunatic fringe group in the Jewish community…”
We therefore agree with the warning issued by the SA Union of Progressive Judaism that Beck would bring a voice of intolerance and virtual hate speech to this country.
We call on relevant authorities to investigate who Group 18 is, since neither its website nor its facebook profile provides any information on the anonymous people behind it.
If it is discovered to be an official Israeli spin unit and funded by state coffers as part of a global “Hasbarah” campaign, it needs to be exposed as such.
Issued by:
Iqbal Jassat – Chairman, Media Review Network
Cell: 083 594 3749
Email: mrn_ij@telkomsa.net
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