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To: Tom Clarke who wrote (2964)	11/27/2008 8:50:36 PM
From: average joe	Respond to of 3816

Ahenakew takes witness stand at hate crime trial Former First Nations leader David Ahenakew told court Thursday he doesn't hate Jews, only "what they do to people." Ahenakew, 75, is on trial in Saskatoon for wilful promotion of hatred after making controversial remarks about Jews at a 2002 First Nations health conference. Ahenakew first testified about the state of his health on the day of the conference. He is diabetic and he said at that time his blood sugar levels were going up and down like a yo-yo. When his sugar was up he would get excited and jittery, when it went down he would get dizzy, he said. He was also nervous, something he also linked to his diabetes. Under questioning from defence lawyer Doug Christie, Ahenakew talked about his military service during the '50s and '60s in Korea, Germany and Egypt. He told the court about seeing how the Palestinians were living while he was peacekeeping in the Middle East, relating that to his own experience living on a First Nations reserve in Canada. He described his job keeping anti-personnel landmines fenced and how those fences were torn down and children killed. Ahenakew accused the Israelis of taking down the fences. He went on to tell the court about his achievements in building First Nations institutions. At the health conference in 2002, Ahenakew claimed Jews started the Second World War. During the interview with a Saskatoon StarPhoenix reporter that followed, Ahenakew referred to Jews as a disease. His lawyer has claimed Ahenakew thought his exchange with the reporter was a private conversation. He was subsequently charged and was stripped of his Order of Canada, but Ahenakew testified he still has the medal at home. He said if someone wants it they can come and get it. It's his second trial. An earlier conviction was overturned on appeal cbc.ca