For Immediate Release: 12:01am, October 22, 2008

Ottawa – “Israel’s decision to close off Gaza to international visitors is an outrage,” fumed Diana Ralph, Coordinator of Independent Jewish Voices (Canada). She was referring to the announcement by Israeli authorities that foreign participants scheduled to take part in the conference Siege and Mental Health… Walls vs. Bridges, in Gaza from the 27th to the 29th of October, would not be allowed admittance to the occupied region. “The complicity of the Canadian government in supporting the humanitarian disaster of the Gaza blockade is making the situation worse.”

Three members of Ralph’s organization – Dr. Mark Etkin, Dr. Judith Deutsch and Dr. Jim Deutsch – were scheduled to participate in the conference.

“The sponsors’ ability to host this conference in Gaza was dependent on the occupying authorities giving doctors, researchers and academics permission to enter Gaza to present their research and engage in cultural exchange,” Ralph explained. “But the Israeli authorities have decided to block admittance to foreign participants, effectively shutting down the conference.”

“Israel insists that it is a democracy. But by attempting to shut down this conference, its authorities have dealt a blow to some of the fundamental tenets of democracy: academic freedom, freedom of speech, education, and cultural dialogue. The government of Canada must do everything in its power to press Israel to reverse this despicable decision,” Ralph concluded

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For further information, please contact:

Diana Ralph, Coordinator, Independent Jewish Voices

ijv@magma.ca

www.independentjewishvoices.ca