AJC Urges IOC to Reverse Rejection of Moment of Silence for 1972 Israeli Victims

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May 16, 2012, 03:52 ET

NEW YORK, May 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC called on the International Olympic Committee to reconsider its rejection of a moment of silence to memorialize the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the Munich Olympics 40 years ago.

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"The 11 victims were Israeli, but the terror attack in Munich was an assault on all who came to participate peacefully in the Olympic games," said AJC Executive Director David Harris.

"The 40th anniversary of that tragedy is a perfect opportunity for the Olympics to properly honor the memory of those innocent Israelis," said Harris. "The IOC refusal to hold a moment of silence during the London games opening ceremony, which will be watched worldwide, is simply shameful."

Israel has regularly requested a moment of silence for the Olympics every four years, and the IOC has consistently turned down that proposal.

"The IOC cannot hide this tragic terrorist episode in Olympic history, certainty not when British security services are placing missiles on top of London apartment buildings and taking other steps to beef up security," Harris added.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee