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Scuffle Erupts Between Jewish and Arab Students During Anti-israel Lecture

January 28, 1970
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Mohamed Choucri, the Egyptian Ambassador to Canada, beat a hasty retreat from a lecture hall at the Sir George William University as violence erupted between a group of Arab students and Jewish students supported by non-Jewish Israeli sympathizers, during a speech he was delivering several days ago. Fighting broke out when the Arab students started chanting El Fatah slogans. No injuries were reported and the scuffle was subdued by university security guards. In his speech, the envoy charged Israel with “ruthless and racist political aggression.” comparing Israeli alleged persecution of Arabs with Nazi practices during World War II. He said “Zionist colonialism is distinguished by three main features: racism, addiction to violence and expansionism.” He said that “Jews may very well be God’s chosen people but Arabs refuse to admit the hand of God is guiding them to dissemination of violence, hatred and destruction.” He was frequently shouted down during his speech by angry pro-Israeli students and beat a quick exit through the basement garage of the university, declining to make any comments. He finished his planned address.

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