Nearly 200 rabbis and other Jewish leaders have signed a declaration urging Jews throughout the world to boycott the Summer Olympics in Beijing because of China's record on human rights. "We are deeply troubled by China's support for the genocidal government of Sudan; its mistreatment of the people of Tibet; its denial of basic rights to its own citizens; and its provision of missiles to Iran and Syria, and friendship for Hamas," the declaration stated. Orthodox Jewish rabbis spearheaded the campaign, which includes leaders of the conservative and reform movements.
The launch of the campaign comes on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the petition noted, "Having endured the bitter experience of abandonment by our presumed allies during the Holocaust, we feel a particular obligation to speak out against injustice and persecution today."
Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, past chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, said there is no intention to equate China with the Nazi regime, but that Jewish leaders are pointing out that China is imitating Nazi Germany's use of the Olympics as a public relations tool, The Associated Press reported. However, the leaders admitted they do not expect Israeli athletes to boycott the Olympics because of strong trade ties between Israel and China.