The American Arab Forum

www.americanarabforum.org

For immediate Release

"Arab American community denounces “Protocols of Zion” as perpetuating stereotyping of Arabs" 

Contact: Aref Assaf, 973-960-2673

Paterson, NJ: November 2, 2005:  The American Arab Forum views with strong reservations the motives and views implied in the soon-to-be released “Protocols of Zion’ by HBO/Cinemax. The documentary, directed by Marc Levin, includes excerpts from interviews with Arab-Americans in New Jersey and NY commenting on the much-debated Protocols of the Elders of Zion and anti-Semitism. There is no doubt about the almost universal believe that anti-Semitism is a curse of untold proportions. 

Sadly, by inserting un-savvy Arab-Americans' viewpoints from Paterson, NJ, the filmmaker entraps our Arab-American community as monogamous Jew-haters. While the film struggles to tell us that it is not the Jews who are conspiring to dominate the world; it succeeds in implying that the Arabs, and might as well add the world's Muslims, who have conspired to forever hate the Jews. The film is a sinister, a racist, and a prejudicial attempt to bash Arabs and demonize them. By so doing, Mr. Levin has mastered the art of ethnic stereotyping.

Aref Assaf, President of American Arab Forum, stated that “ethnic stereotyping, whether by possibly well-meaning people such as Marc Levin,  Hollywood or by the FBI, solidifies the wedge between what we call “mainstream” culture and those who are perceived to be on the outside of it. Anti-Arabism and Islamophobia are so much a part of the political and cultural discourse on Arabs and Muslims in American society today that most do not even recognize it as racism.” Mr. Assaf added further, “it is true that some Muslims and Arabs implied Jewish involvement or complicity in the 9-11 attacks but this must not imply that all Arabs and Muslims felt this way. More important, these verbal accusations pale in comparison to the incredible campaign of discrimination, suspicion, and castigation the Arab and Muslim community has had to endure since 9-11.”

AAF believes that it is time for the two communities to mend fences and engage in a constructive and collaborative effort to ease the tensions here and in the Middle East. We hope Mr. Levin’s next documentary will be to highlight joint projects between Jews, Arabs, and Muslims. This would be the surest way to outcast hatemongers and bigots amongst us.

End

 The American Arab Forum, USA. AAF is a non-partisan and non-sectarian organization, is a registered tax-exempt, and not-for-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.  We endeavor to provide reliable and credible information and resources to and about the Arab-American community in the United States