Geller, Spencer, Korobkin
“We will not take seriously criticism from an organization with documented ties to a terrorist organization such as Hamas.” If only American politicians had the spine to say that to Hamas-linked CAIR, the NCCM’s parent group, and other Hamas-linked Muslim organizations in the U.S.
In any case, what the NCCM is trying to do here is insidious. Not only do Islamic supremacist groups such as Hamas-linked CAIR and Reza Aslan’s Aslan Media defame and libel foes of jihad terror in attempts to intimidate hosts of events into canceling their speaking appearances, but now anyone who was ever with us is targeted as well. The Hamas-linked NCCM and its allied groups are trying to make people afraid of even being in the same room with us, for fear of the smear campaign that is sure to follow. The objective is to make everyone too afraid to say a negative word about jihad terror or Islamic supremacism, so that the jihadists and supremacists can advance unimpeded.
“Muslim group, PMO in war of words over rabbi’s presence on PM trip,” by David Akin for Sun News Network, January 16 (thanks to Meir):
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper hasn’t even started packing for his first visit to the Middle East, but the trip already has its first controversy.
A Canadian Muslim group wants Harper’s officials to boot a Toronto rabbi out of the official delegation that will travel with the prime minister.
In a letter sent to Harper on Tuesday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims said it objected to the presence of Toronto Rabbi Daniel Korobkin as part of Harper’s official delegation.
Korobkin declined to comment, but Jason MacDonald, the prime minister’s director of communications, slammed the NCCM — formerly known as the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR-CAN — for even making the suggestion.
“We will not take seriously criticism from an organization with documented ties to a terrorist organization such as Hamas,” MacDonald said.
“The delegation accompanying the prime minister to the Middle East includes a range of stakeholders from various business, religious and community organizations.”
Korobkin is the senior rabbi at Beth Avraham Yoseph Congregation, the largest Orthodox congregation in Canada, and is a former regional vice-president of the Rabbinical Council of America.
The NCCM rejected MacDonald’s statement as “absolutely false” and says it is neither associated with any terrorist group nor is it anti-Semitic.
In an e-mail, NCCM executive director Ihsaan Gardee said: “Our legal counsel is of the view that this statement is defamatory and libelous and we will be taking this up with the PMO. Furthermore, the statement is below the dignity of the office of the prime minister in responding to legitimate concerns raised by Canadians and only serves to distract from the legitimate issues raised.”
There is no chance that the NCCM will sue; Gardee is just blustering. CAIR’s ties to Hamas are abundantly documented.
The NCCM said Korobkin should be disqualified from going to Israel with the prime minister because, in September, Korobkin “introduced, defended and praised” two American anti-Muslim campaigners.
We are no more “anti-Muslim” than foes of the Nazis were “anti-German.”
Those two campaigners, Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, are founders of a group called Stop Islamization of America. Korobkin gave some brief remarks at an event in Toronto where Geller was the featured speaker.
I spoke there as well. You can see what I said here, and judge for yourself whether it was genuinely “vitriolic” and “anti-Muslim.”
The NCCM, which says it is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit group that funds its work through donations, has had a long-running battle with Geller and Spencer.
“Mr. Korobkin has chosen to align himself with some of the most recognized and vitriolic anti-Muslim activists of our time,” Gardee said in his organization’s letter to Harper dated Jan. 14.
“The highest political office in our nation should not lend its legitimacy to such parties and views that are entirely contrary to our shared values of mutual understanding, acceptance and respect.”
On her blog, Geller fired back.
“If only these Muslim groups used their coercive intimidation to shut down hate imams who preach jihad and incitement to violence. No, but they attack those of us who do,” Geller wrote.