Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Official Arab Supplies Missing "Context"

The following letter--and editors' note--appears in the National Post:
Re: Funding For Leftist Group To Be Cut, John Ivison, Dec. 5.

The National Post's editorial slant is well known, but to stoop to outright lying and personal attacks sets a new low. Case in point: Mr. Ivison's article stated that "Sources said the government is also concerned that Alternatives' board includes supporters of Hezbollah and Hamas, such as Ali Mallah, vice-president of the Canadian Arab Federation. Mr. Mallah has in the past said that Hezbollah is a 'symbol of the struggle against Israeli oppression, injustice and occupation,' while the CAF has called on the Canadian government to remove 'legitimate political parties' such as Hamas and Hezbollah from the list of banned organizations. Mr. Mallah, who is also an active CUPE and NDP member, did not return calls seeking comment."

The quotes mentioned above were taken out of context. The statements attributed to me were in reference to the brutal assault by the Israeli military against civilians in Gaza and Lebanon in the summer of 2006. It would be helpful if the anonymous CIDA source, as well as Mr. Ivison himself, realized that people -- all people -- have the right to resist foreign military occupation.

Finally, I totally reject this type of yellow journalism, that hides questionable motives behind "undisclosed sources." I further wish to challenge Mr. Ivison's claim that "I did not return calls." I received no telephone calls from Mr. Ivison or the National Post on this subject.

Ali Mallah, Canadian Arab Federation, VP Ontario, and member, Board of Directors, Alternatives.

Note from the editors: Mr. Ivison first telephoned Mr. Mallah at his listed home number and left a voicemail message. His next call was answered by an unidentified female, who also took a message, and provided Mr. Ivison with another phone number for Mr. Mallah, stating that it was his office line. An additional voicemail message was left at that number. Mr. Ivison received no response to these messages.
No doubt Mr. Mallah would have been able to "contextualize" his pro-terrorist comments (the context being his own steadfast anti-Zionism), had only Ivison been able to reach him. How grateful we are he was given the opportunity to do so in his own crystal clear words.

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