January 25, 2016
Media Coverage:
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) and the Australian Jewish Medical Federation (AJMF) have denounced a letter signed by 71 British doctors asking the World Medical Association to revoke the membership of the Israel Medical Association. The letter claims that Israeli doctors have carried out “medical torture on Palestinian patients.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“This immoral letter is baseless and discriminatory in many ways. Propaganda and politics have no role in medicine and such an unabashedly anti-Israel action, part of the global BDS campaign, tarnishes the reputation of the British medical profession. Israeli doctors are internationally renowned for always providing the best care and treatment to every patient, be they Israeli, Arab, Palestinian, Jewish, Christian or Muslim. Israeli doctors have treated the wife of Mahmoud Abbas, have been part of medical teams that were dispatched to disaster areas, and have treated hundreds of thousands of Palestinians as well as thousands of Syrian patients. This repulsive move will not contribute in any way to dialogue and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians, and we call on the WMA to vigorously reject and condemn this divisive request and to ensure that the IMA remains a valued member of this important medical body.”
Dr Miriam Kuttner, President of the AJMF (Victoria) and Dr Wayne Lemish, Federal President said:
“We are appalled at the latest petition by small group of doctors to ban Israeli medical association. Every hospital and every doctor in Israel treats each patient equally whatever their ethnic background. It is a sign of ignorance that this motion has been put forward. Why do those who oppose Israel, the only democratic nation in the Middle East, rely only on lies and propaganda to support their case?
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and racism.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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or visit our website at antidef.org.au