Anti-Israel Conference Canceled in Australia

Sydney, Australia—A conference that was to “debate” charging Israel with war crimes was canceled, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, after “revelations the convener had made anti-Semitic remarks.” Maqsood Alshams, a reputed human rights activist made inflammatory and highly derogatory anti-Semitic statements to Dr. Richard L. Benkin of Chicago in emails and over the telephone. Alshams had previously asserted that his passionate anti-Israeli animus was based on his commitment to human rights for all people. When Benkin asked him why he had no sympathy for the children of Sderot and other Jewish communities facing Hamas rocket fire, Alshams said it was because "you Jews are m**herf****ng b**t*rds." Alshams repeated these comments to Benkin and had made similarly revealing statements to others.

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Benkin revealed Alshams’ underlying motives to several members of Australia’s Jewish community. They got the information to the Jewish Board of Deputies who got it to the press. Two days later, the conference (which was to be held at an official building) was canceled after several participants withdrew and distanced themselves from Alshams. Benkin, Founder of Interfaith Strength, is an anti-terrorist and human rights activist. Like many others, he is committed to unmasking the anti-Jewish hatred that is the real basis for many Israel-bashers, who cloak themselves in disingenuous human rights language—a ruse that, unfortunately, many in the media and elsewhere reinforce. Benkin is available for interviews and commentary and can be contacted at the telephone or email below. CONTACT: Richard L. Benkin, Ph.D.; +1-847-922-6426; drrbenkin@comcast.net; [url=http://www.interfaithstrength.com]http://www.interfaithstrength.com[/url]

A Small Victory Down Under

By Dr. Richard Benkin Saturday, January 31, 2009 An anti-Israel conference scheduled to be held in an official Australian state building was canceled after a small group of dedicated individuals revealed the conference leader’s anti-Semitic motives. Maqsood Alshams, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, planned the conference to debate the issue of charging Israel with war crimes for its recent actions in Gaza. Since arriving Down Under in the 1990s, Alshams had become a darling of the Australian left and became known as a “human rights” advocate. It is within that context that spews his relentless anti-Israel venom.

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