Jews caused Korean War, too, Ahenakew tells court

A former aboriginal leader accused of wilfully promoting hatred has wrapped up his testimony by saying that Jews caused the Korean War, in addition to the Second World War.

David Ahenakew repeated at his trial Friday that he doesn't hate Jews and that he believes he shouldn't be on trial.

"I've never desired to promote hatred of anyone, including the Jews," the 75-year-old testified.

Ahenakew is on trial for the second time on a charge that he wilfully promoted hatred against Jews during a public speech and subsequent interview with a Saskatoon reporter in 2002.

The former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called Jews a "disease" that started the Second World War.

Crown and defence lawyers were scheduled to make their final arguments in the case Friday afternoon. Provincial court Judge Wilfred Tucker was expected to take some time to consider the case before handing down a verdict.

Under cross-examination, Ahenakew testified that he first learned Jews started the Second World War as a teenager living in Saskatchewan. He said many European immigrant families living in the area told him so.

After joining the Canadian military at 17, he served in the Korean War and later learned the Jews had started that battle as well, he said.

Jews started most conflicts, Ahenakew said, as far as the news told him.

While on the witness stand Thursday, Ahenakew said hehad beenon a peacekeeping mission in the Middle East, when he learned Israelis were responsible for taking down fences where landmines were killing children.

Regrets comments

Ahenakew said Friday that he blames the reporter for "sucking" him into an argumentative interview. He also said he hadn't been feeling well that day.

He testified he tried to stop the interview but kept answering questions because he knew the truth about the war and wanted to have the last word. After three minutes, Ahenakew said, he walked away.

"I thought that this is going to be viewed by some people that I hate Jews, and I don't," he said.

In hindsight, Ahenakew said, he never should have made the controversial comments.

"I have hurt not only the Jews, but my own family."

Ahenakew made a tearful, public apology a few days after his comments provoked nationwide outrage and made headlines around the world.

He lost his position as a senator with the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations. And after he was convicted at his first trial, he was removed from the Order of Canada.

The conviction was overturned on appeal and the Crown elected to retry him rather than take the case to the Supreme Court.

Ahenakew's defence lawyer, Doug Christie, attempted to have a videotape of Ahenakew's apology admitted into evidence at this trial to show he did not have the intent to promote hatred.

But the judge refused after Ahenakew admitted the scripted apology was written by a communications official and vetted by a lawyer.