Iranian President’s Words Put Him "Outside the Community of Nations" Says President of Union for Reform Judaism
(New York, NY) October 28 – In response to this week’s comments calling for the destruction of Israel by Iranian President Mahmous Ahmadinejad, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
"I have no words sufficient to express our outrage at President Ahmadinejad’s statement at a conference of Arab students that Israel ‘must be wiped off the map.’ Such offensive language extends far beyond the realm of civilized political dialogue. The racist, hateful ideology of radical extremists within the Iranian government undoubtedly incites violence and hostility among its citizens. Those who doubt the threat posed by Ahmadinejad and other enemies of Israel need only remember that he spoke at nearly the same time as the horrific terrorist attack in Hadera.
“By calling for the destruction of a UN member state, Ahmadinejad puts himself and his government outside the community of nations. We urge the United Nations and her member states to unequivocally condemn Ahmadinejad’s toxic rhetoric."
The Union for Reform Judaism (formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations) is the synagogue arm of Reform Judaism in North America, representing 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 920 congregations across the United States and Canada. Union programs and services include youth camps, music and book publishing, adult education opportunities, Outreach to unaffiliated and intermarried Jews, and the Religious Action Center in Washington, DC.
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