MONTREAL, June 21, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs appreciates the urgent attention given by Projet Montreal leader and Jeanne Mance district City Councillor Richard Bergeron to the anti-Semitic graffiti on a sidewalk in Montreal.
On June 14th, the word "Israhell" and swastikas were spray-painted in front of the Naot shoe store located on Saint-Denis Street in Montreal.
As soon as the Centre was informed, it contacted Mr. Bergeron's office who immediately took it upon himself to have the graffiti removed. Mr. Bergeron made it clear that this was completely "Intolerable", as he joined city workers in removing the hateful graffiti.
Mr. Bergeron added on his Facebook page that "hateful discourse is unacceptable in Montreal. As soon as I was informed that the anti-Semitic graffiti had been spray-painted on the sidewalk in front of Naot Shoes, I ensured that it would be removed immediately". He added that "on behalf of myself and of the members of Projet Montreal, I affirm my solidarity with the Jewish Community of Montreal."
The Jewish-owned shoe store has been the target of a boycott campaign for the past two years led by a small group of anti-Israel activists called PAJU.
PAJU's campaign against businesses selling Israeli-made products has been sharply condemned in the media, as well as by the City Council of Montreal and all three major parties in the Quebec National Assembly.
The Centre reiterates its condemnation of PAJU's hateful campaign and calls on PAJU to end its harassment of stores selling Israeli products, whose only achievement is to create an environment that emboldens anti-Semites. The Centre further reiterates its call for Montrealers to continue supporting the targeted store.
SOURCE: Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs
Luciano G. Del Negro
Vice-President (Quebec)
514-726-8311
[email protected]
Jonathan Kalles
Associate Director, Government Relations (Quebec)
514-946-6815
[email protected]
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