October 6, 2004

U.S.-Formed Iraqi Court Charges Iraqi with Visiting Israel

Listed in: Israel, Other Foreign Policy, NJDC News, Press Releases

Washington, DC: Despite President Bush's recent assertions that interim Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi is a strong leader and a good friend, today's New York Times reports, "A court of Iraq's interim government has brought criminal charges against a prominent politician for attending an antiterrorism conference in Israel and publicly suggesting that Iraq should open talks with Israel. ... Late Tuesday, State Department officials said they were seeking to learn more before issuing a statement. 'We are looking into this through our embassy,' said Greg Sullivan, a department spokesman.' ...According to the Oct. 4 issue of the Iraqi newspaper Al Sabah, a court official said, 'Al-Alusi committed a crime by visiting the enemy, the Zionist state,' and the official vowed 'to protect the Islamic and Arab identity of Iraq.'"

"It is vile and utterly unacceptable that Iraq's special criminal court -- a court established by the American occupation authority -- would charge an Iraqi politician with the 'crime' of visiting Israel and suggesting dialogue with Israel," National Jewish Democratic Council Executive Director Ira N. Forman said today. "This is a deeply disturbing development, and President Bush should suggest to the State Department that officials there should be doing more than just 'looking into this,'" Forman said.

"Sadly, this episode is symbolic of many larger problems that we continue to face in Iraq. A new Iraq should be stable and free of violence, but it must also be at peace with Israel, and it should hopefully have an open dialogue with Israel. Such language on the part of Iraq's new courts is sadly reminiscent of the old Iraq.

"President Bush and Vice President Cheney, who have spoken passionately about Mr. Allawi's 'courage' and 'leadership,' must stop viewing such disturbing news from Iraq through rose colored glasses. They should be doing everything possible to persuade Iraq's 'courageous' Prime Minister Allawi and the interim government to stop the vicious anti-Semitism and irrational hate of Israel which apparently pervades his government," Forman added.

For the complete story in today's New York Times, please click here.