Muslims had complained that the idea that someone would go to Israel to learn counter-terrorism techniques was outrageous! Insulting! As if the Israelis had ever had to combat terrorism! They demanded apologies, sensitivity training, the whole nine dhimmi yards. This time, they lost.
But the anti-dhimmi victory is not complete. Chief Armand La Barge said: “We insisted on the opportunity to meet with Palestinian officials as well. We didn’t go in with the perspective of getting one side of the story.” Yes, those Palestinian officials can tell you a great deal about how to ward off those Israeli suicide bombers. “Board rejects complaint on chief’s trip to Israel,” from the Toronto Star, with thanks to Romy:
The talking lasted an hour, but the decision took less than a minute.
After seven speeches from Palestinian-Canadians, a response from the Canadian Jewish Congress, and warnings to both sides to stay on topic, York Region’s police services board dismissed a complaint yesterday by a citizen over a trip Chief Armand La Barge made to Israel in March.
“The board was obvious in its decision,” said board chair David Barrow. “We are in favour of professional development. The history of the conflict in the Middle East is not an issue the board has the purview to deal with.”
Khaled Mouammar of Richmond Hill and several supporters addressed the board during its monthly public meeting in Newmarket. Mouammar filed a 54-page complaint in July.
La Barge was one of 30 Ontario politicians and police officials who toured Israel for a week in March. The trip, organized by the Canadian Jewish Congress, aimed to let participants learn “best practices” from Israeli police….
Mouammar’s complaint included 46 pages of “supporting documents.” He cited United Nations and Amnesty International reports that said Israeli police practice racial profiling and torture. Mouammar filed a “policy complaint” against the board, arguing that it should not send officials on professional development trips to countries where police abuse human rights.
“(Israel) is not an example that should be emulated by law enforcement officials,” Mouammar told the meeting.
His complaint is one of several he and community groups have lodged against local police services across Ontario, including Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa, and against the OPP.
In his letter to York’s board, he urged them to apologize to the local Arab and Muslim communities, pay back all public money spent on the trip, undergo sensitivity training and change their policy on official trips abroad….
During a break in the meeting, La Barge said he would meet with members of the Arab and Muslim communities before taking a similar trip, but stood by his decision to travel in March.
“I certainly do support the mission,” he said. “We insisted on the opportunity to meet with Palestinian officials as well. We didn’t go in with the perspective of getting one side of the story.”