Cairo: Belgian anti-Israel journalist captured, beaten, accused of spying

Serge Dumont is Jewish and his real  name is Maurice Safatti.  He works for the notoriously anti-Israel Belgian newspaper Le Soir and is their correspondent in Israel.  His articles are much appreciated by anti-Zionist blogs such as France Palestine Solidarité. See HERE. Here is what we wrote about him in 2008 : Belgian newspaper Le Soir claims that Israel prefers Western immigrants and which is typical of his style.  We hope that he is safe and that he will be released as soon as possible.

European newspapers are reporting that a Belgian correspondent in Cairo has been beaten, detained and accused of spying.

The papers say Serge Dumont was covering a demonstration in support of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak when he was taken by unidentified people in civilian clothes to a military post, where he was accused of espionage.

Dumont, whose real name is Maurice Sarfatti, reports for newspapers in Brussels, northern France and Geneva.

The papers said that Dumont told them by telephone that he was punched repeatedly in the face Wednesday and called him a supporter of opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei.  The newspapers said they were vigorously protesting what they said was an attack on freedom of information.

Belgian newspaper Le Soir claims that Israel prefers Western immigrants

Reporting on the latest airlift of 65 Ethiopian Jewish families, Belgian newspaper Le Soir (paper edition of August 7) claims that "there are still tens of thousands of black Jews in Ethiopia, but Israel is not in a hurry to welcome them". Where the paper got such high figures remains a mystery.

Serge Dumont, the author of the article, further claims that Israeli authorities have a preference for Western immigrants, i.e. white immigrants ("les responsables privilégient désormais les immigrants occidentaux"). The journalist does not bother to substantiate this claim either but the implications are clear.

To emphasize the "racist" character of Israeli society, the newspaper goes on to quote a female Ethiopian management student, identified as Imanut B., who is said to have arrived in Israel in 1989 (note the irony she is "a student" and not a "street sweeper"):

"We would be treated much better if we were white and rich. In any case, we wouldn't be accused of spreading AIDS and of being parasites just fit to sweep the streets."

And she adds :

"Maybe white Israelis view us as better than Palestinians, but for them we remain poor negroes who are trying to be civilized."

It is also stated that Ethiopian Jews have not integrated well because they are poorly educated and find it difficult to integrate into Israeli "americanized society". Whatever that means is for anyone to decide, but is in keeping with the whole tone of the article: negative.

In a recent article, Le Soir - whose reporting on Israel is invariably hostile - made light of Barack Obama's positive remarks about Israel putting them down to his need to "court" Jewish American voters.

To find out more about the Falash Mura still living in Egypt:
-Major phase of Ethiopian aliyah ends, but advocates want more
-Bringing Falash Mura impugns the real Ethiopian Jews
-'Last' Falash Mura arrive, group slams gov't for leaving behind thousands of Jews
.