Mark J. Freiman

CJN

I read with great interest “Italian deputies learn about Jewish refugees” (CJN, June 25) and was pleased to see appropriate recognition for MP Irwin Cotler and his able representation of the history of Jewish refuges from Arab countries before the Italian parliament under the sponsorship of Justice for Jews from Arab countries.I was especially struck by the fact that coinciding with Irwin’s address was the visit of Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi to Italy. This quite appropriately allowed Cotler to ask why Libya has done nothing to compensate the Jews forced out of Libya following the establishment of the State of Israel.

I do note, however, that The CJN missed the fact that also present at this same meeting in Italy was Toronto’s own Walter Arbib, a former Libyan Jew who today is one of Canada’s most respected philanthropists. Arbib acted as special emissary for the Canadian Jewish Congress at the Rome gathering on Jews from Arab countries.

Mark J. Freiman
President
Canadian Jewish Congress