Mohammed Ali to receive Israeli-Arab peace prize
Regional, Politics, 9/9/1997

Mohammed Ali, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, is to receive the 1997 Peace and Tolerance Prize from The Jewish - Arab Center for Peace at Kibbutz Givat Haviva in an extravagant ceremony which will take place in two months in New York. The Center's board of governors, which holds its meetings in the US, is throwing a party in New York this November during which the prize will be awarded to Mohammed Ali. Last year, the recipient of the prize was Dalia Rabin Filosof, daughter of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

The Jewish - Arab Center for Peace at Givat Haviva has even invited Mohammed Ali (55), who was previously known as Cassius Clay until he changed his name when he converted to Islam in 1967, to visit Israel. Mohammed Ali visited Israel 12 years ago and met with the then prime minister, Shimon Peres. Despite suffering from Parkinson's Disease, Mohammed Ali tours all over the world under the framework of his activities for Muslims in the US and world-wide.

"Ali will receive recognition for his activities on behalf of tolerance between different faiths and religions. We have been working for years with the Islamic community in the US and in Israel, and Ali has given a great deal for the sake of peace," says Dr Sara Osatzky Lazar, director of the Center at Givat Haviva. "I am astonished by Givat Haviva's disappointing decision. I remember Ali's terrible days, when his mind was clear and hatred towards Israel and world Jewry dripped from his mouth. This is a senseless decision, and I call on the heads of Givat Haviva to retract it," said Knesset member Moshe Peled, who is also deputy education minister in Israel.

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