tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11508415.post-1139783051944964482006-02-13T09:13:00.000+11:002006-02-13T18:55:57.400+11:00<div style="text-align: justify;">Iranian Jews deserve support for their <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/681856.html">courageous stand</a>:<br /><br />"Iran's Jews have sharply criticized President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust, saying his remarks have sparked fears in their ancient but dwindling community.<br /><br />"Haroun Yashayaei, the head of Iran's Jewish community, sent a letter of complaint to Ahmadinejad two weeks ago.<br /><br />"'How is it possible to ignore all of the undeniable evidence existing for the exile and massacre of the Jews in Europe during World War Two?' said a copy of Yashayaei's letter faxed to Reuters on Sunday.<br /><br />"'Challenging one of the most obvious and saddening events of 20th-century humanity has created astonishment among the people of the world and spread fear and anxiety among the small Jewish community of Iran,' the letter added.<br /><br />"A Jewish community leader said he preferred not to comment on whether Ahmadinejad had sent a reply to the letter, penned on behalf on the entire Jewish community.<br /><br />"Jews occupy an awkward position in Israel's arch-foe Iran, often speaking out against Israeli treatment of Palestinians."<br /><br />While reports suggest that the US is <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/681727.html">planning military strikes</a> against Tehran, the international community should be rallying around individuals or groups expressing dissent from the official government line, such as Iranian Jews.<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11508415-113978305194496448?l=antonyloewenstein.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Antony Loewensteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13281306917181742047noreply@blogger.com2