Attached is a letter I sent to IFLA David Elazar Rishon LeZion, Israel [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.geocities.com/d_elazar (home page) eVoicemail (413) 581-4711 (USA) eFax (801) 672-2976 (USA)
Ms. Claudia Lux, President IFLA Zentral- und Landesbibliothek Berlin Breite Strasse 36 10178 BERLIN Germany Libraries from Human Rights Perspective: International Conference Organiser Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies (RCHRS) and IFLA Date 31 March–2 April Venue Ramallah, Palestine Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Link http://www.rchrs.ps/aboutC.html Dear Ms. Lux Are you planning to discuss the following and include the findings in your reports? 1) The disruption of library service in Sderot (Israel) due to the indiscriminate launching of rockets into the Israeli civilian population for the past 7 years by the Palestinians in Gaza (not mentioned in your 2007 report). Two people suffer from shock as rocket lands near home of hunger striker and public library; teacher says: 'I left my little son under my daughter's care; when the rocket fell she jumped on him to protect him with her body' http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264480,00.html We can't hold activities at libraries and community centers because they don't have reinforced rooms or shelters. http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/About/Press+Room/Jewish+Agency+In+The+News/2007/2/jun08jw.htm 2) OPT: Attack on Christian library in Gaza prompts heightened security fears http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=76851 ... The attack on the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) library in the early hours of 15 February caused severe damage to the building and to most of its 10,000 books - used mainly by students in high schools and universities. It was seen as an invaluable and unique education resource in Gaza. "The explosion blew up the whole library. We have been working for two days to salvage what we can from the wreckage before the rains come," Issa Saba from the YMCA told IRIN. ... There have been other such attacks in Gaza in recent months - on the American School, social and cultural clubs, and sports centres. Many blame militant Islamic splinter groups. ... In the vast majority, if not all, of these cases no one was caught - whether by the regular Palestinian Authority security forces, or, since the June 2007 takeover, by Hamas' police force in Gaza. This is not the only incident. 3) Anti-Semitism in Palestinian library collections (be sure to check their libraries for such literature) a) PA Leader calls for killing all Jews and Americans - April 20, 2007 http://www.pmw.org.il/tv%20part6.html Last week PMW released the text of this call for the killing of all Americans and Jews, preached by the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr. Ahmad Bahar on Palestinian television. Israel is referred to as a "cancerous lump, that is the Jews, in the heart of the Arab nation," and the US is said to be "on its way to disappear." Due to its importance PMW is now releasing the subtitled video. b) PA Academics Malign Jewish Tradition A common PA libel is to distort Jewish tradition, depicting it as having evil and racist components. Arafat's Advisor on Education and Head of the PA Public Library, Jirar Al-Qidwa, teaches, during his educational TV program on March 2, 2001 that the Torah and Talmud instruct that Jews may kill non-Jews. I sincerely hope that the purpose of this conference under the co-sponsorship of IFLA is not for the purpose of propaganda or of bashing Israel. Should anything negative be written about Israel, I would expect from an organization like yours which deals with the "printed word" will turn to the Israeli authorities for response, comment and explanation. Have a safe and just conference. Sincerely, David Elazar Rishon LeZion, Israel [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: Nancy E. Gwinn Director, Smithsonian Institution Libraries P.O. Box 37012, NHB 22 MRC 154 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20013-7012 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Steve W. Witt Associate Director, Center for Global Studies, University of Illinois 302 East John, Suite 1705 CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820 MC-428 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sjoerd M. J. Koopman Coordinator of Professional Activities, IFLA Headquarters E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Barbara J. Ford University of Illionois at Urbana-Champaign Mortenson Center for International Library Programs 142 Undergraduate Library MC-522 1402 W. Gregory Drive URBANA, Ill 61801 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
