Filing a complaint against the petition of anti-Israeli footballers

On Wednesday, December 5, 2012, and before the turn of events concerning the famous “petition” to boycott Israel, launched by the footballer Frédéric Oumar Kanoute, JSSNews, main Israeli-French speaking magazine, decided to press charges against the European footballers that support the boycott of Israel. This is at least the second complaint against this players. The Service for the Protection of the Jewish Community (SPCJ) had previously pressed one on December 3, 2012.

Besides of calling for a boycott of the State of Israel (in favor of a cancellation of the Euro UEFA’s competition for under 21, to be held in 2013 in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Netanya and Petah Tikva), Frédéric Oumar Kanoute conveys a biased message of hate against Israel. In addition, the petition is full of lies and false signatures for the sole purpose of misinforming and manipulate the public, to win over football supporters.

If, unlike the country in which he currently performs (China), unlike the country in which he almost signed (Iran) and, unlike his native country (Mali), freedom of expression exists in France as well as in Israel, it is intolerable to use it as a vehicle of communication for the conveyors of hate.

In addition, JSSNews denonces incomplete information published in Frederic Oumar Kanoute’s release concerning a bombing of a soccer field in Gaza by Israel. If the information was true, the cause of the bombing is no less important: a cache of missiles that Hamas launched on Israeli civilians was installed in the stadium. Israel and its army have also denounced the use by Hamas of human shields, to protect themselves from retaliation.

Finally, as did famous French journalists from RMC, L’Equipe and Canal Plus, we also denounce the farce surrounding this petition. At the moment, no less than 15% of players who “signed” for Frédéric Oumar Kanoute’s call for hate, have officially denied having any connection with this case. Olympique de Marseille and Bastia SC’s clubs also issued an official press release to distance themselves from Frederic Oumar Kanoute.

In these circumstances, it is important that justice take action against these methods from a another age.