A former PLO terrorist who is now pro-Israel was not allowed to enter Canada - but he spoke to his scheduled audience anyway, via live video link.
Walid Shoebat, formerly of a village near Bethlehem and now a resident of northern California, was scheduled to speak in Vancouver yesterday against terrorism - but was turned away by Canadian immigration officials at a California airport. Organizers held the event anyway, arranging a live video link with the Italian Cultural Center in Vancouver. Reports varied - between 400 and 1,000 - as to how many people attended the event, but the crowd was said to be "elated" and "riveted," and frequently "enthusiastically applauded" Shoebat.
Gabriel Patrich, of the Israel Action Committee in Vancouver - one of three Jewish and Christian groups that organized the event - told the Vancouver Sun that he was "very disappointed" by Canada's refusal to admit Shoebat. "This is against free speech. We thought our government would do the right thing. We look at it as if they're taking sides."
The Sun reported that Canadian immigration spokeswoman Simone MacAndrew couldn't comment on the specifics of the case. Shoebat said that the airport officials "gave me some excuse that I have a background in terrorism."
Shoebat has openly admitted his involvement in terrorist activities as a teenager, but now speaks out against terrorism in all forms.
Keith Davies, a publicist for Shoebat, blames Palestinian terrorist elements for pressuring the Canadian government not to allow Shoebat into Canada: "The bottom line is that the Palestinians, by making this ridiculous protest, handed us our greatest victory... [They] did not prevent Walid from being heard. The whole world is starting to know Walid Shoebat. Thank you, PLO activists."
An interview with Walid Shoebat - "Terrorist Turned Zionist"
- can be heard on an archived Tovia Singer Show on IsraelNationalRadio.
Walid Shoebat, formerly of a village near Bethlehem and now a resident of northern California, was scheduled to speak in Vancouver yesterday against terrorism - but was turned away by Canadian immigration officials at a California airport. Organizers held the event anyway, arranging a live video link with the Italian Cultural Center in Vancouver. Reports varied - between 400 and 1,000 - as to how many people attended the event, but the crowd was said to be "elated" and "riveted," and frequently "enthusiastically applauded" Shoebat.
Gabriel Patrich, of the Israel Action Committee in Vancouver - one of three Jewish and Christian groups that organized the event - told the Vancouver Sun that he was "very disappointed" by Canada's refusal to admit Shoebat. "This is against free speech. We thought our government would do the right thing. We look at it as if they're taking sides."
The Sun reported that Canadian immigration spokeswoman Simone MacAndrew couldn't comment on the specifics of the case. Shoebat said that the airport officials "gave me some excuse that I have a background in terrorism."
Shoebat has openly admitted his involvement in terrorist activities as a teenager, but now speaks out against terrorism in all forms.
Keith Davies, a publicist for Shoebat, blames Palestinian terrorist elements for pressuring the Canadian government not to allow Shoebat into Canada: "The bottom line is that the Palestinians, by making this ridiculous protest, handed us our greatest victory... [They] did not prevent Walid from being heard. The whole world is starting to know Walid Shoebat. Thank you, PLO activists."
An interview with Walid Shoebat - "Terrorist Turned Zionist"
- can be heard on an archived Tovia Singer Show on IsraelNationalRadio.