On Thursday February 9th, the Calgary based Jewish Free Press re-published the offensive cartoons and the very next day the Calgary Jewish Community Council issued a press release and stated that the publication "does not speak for the Jewish community of Calgary," and that "The Calgary Jewish Community Council, as the representative body of the Jewish community of Calgary, would not have published the cartoons out of sensitivity to the fact that they are offensive to Muslims." Their release further stated that: "We hope that the controversy of the past few weeks will lead to an open discussion about mutual and reciprocal respect between faiths." The full text of the release is re-produced below.

Also on February 9th, the Canadian Jewish Congress stated in a press release that: "The decision by all those who chose to publish the cartoons is inexcusably provocative, insensitive and disrespectful of Muslim believers." The CJC release further stated that: “We join those Muslims and non-Muslims who have been appalled by the response to the publication of the cartoons and condemn those groups and regimes that have fanned the flames for their own political ends." In addition, the release stated that “Freedom of expression and the protection of vulnerable minorities from group vilification are fundamental values of a secular, pluralistic democracy. These two values must be delicately balanced against one another." Also, on February 10th, in another press release CJC condemned the recent acts of vandalism on two Montreal area mosques which were pelted with stones. (See: http://www.cjc.ca/template.php?action=news&story=772 )

Commenting on these statements, MCM President Salam Elmenyawi stated that he appreciated the principled positions the two Jewish organizations have taken.

"Their words have fostered a spirit of goodwill between the Jewish and Muslim communities and we hope a dialogue of mutual respect will continue to take place between our respective communities so that we can be an example of peaceful co-existence to the rest of the world."

Elmenyawi also stated that MCM was saddened over the Jewish Free Press's decision to publish the offensive cartoons and feels that in doing so the publication exhibited poor taste and judgement in not taking the religious sensitivities of others into consideration.