PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim claims that he is now the target of an international lobby spearheaded by alleged Zionist regime-linked public relations firm Apco Worldwide.

"They are saying that I’m anti-Jew by twisting my statements (made) in Parliament," Anwar told a forum in Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur today.

The forum was held by Pakatan Rakyat to discuss the Israeli military’s deadly raid on a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla, which saw live rounds fired at activists, leaving 10 dead.

NONE Anwar alleged that Apco Worldwide was now extracting revenge following his exposé in Parliament - that the firm was once engaged by the Israeli government headed by Ehud Barak and conceived the 'One Israel' initiative.

 He accused the international communication firm of "influencing" the oldest pro-Israeli group B'nai B'rith to "attack" him.

"Apco is so influential, it even managed to convince the oldest Jewish body to attack me personally and punish me. The organisation even labelled me as their enemy," he said.

I'm trying to protect country

According to a report on a letter dated May 25 to US Foreign Relations Senate Committee chairman John F Kerry, B'nai B'rith blamed Anwar for inciting hatred towards the Israel and Zionist-Jews.

The pro-Jew group had also urged the United States to severe all ties with Anwar over his statement linking Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's '1Malaysia' initiative to the Zionist government's 'One Israel' initiative.

NONE They were also offended by Anwar's allegations that Israel agents had infiltrated the Royal Malaysian Police's headquarters in Bukit Aman.

Anwar revealed today that Apco had gone a step further in submitting an "official complaint" to International Crisis Group (ICG), an organisation that Anwar is a member, accusing him of being "anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic".

"I expected the attack (from the Jewish group). Apco even sent an official report to ICG to say that I am anti-Jewish.

"(However) the ICG has also made a strong statement against the recent attack on the flotilla by the Israeli troops," he said.

"I criticised Apco because they are influential, and they have since managed to influence an organisation to attack me personally, and label me an enemy of Israel.

 "They (Apco) are confusing my statements on Israel as racist... (when) we are trying to protect our nation’s security and dignity," he said.

Obama 'too weak'

NONE He asserted that Pakatan’s discontent with Israel was not racist but was based on humanitarian reasons.

Anwar raised the government's hiring of the public relations firm during the Parliament sitting in May.

He also took a swipe at US president Barrack Obama, pointing out the latter's "weak" response to the flotilla attack.

"Obama is too weak. He only said that he 'regretted' the attack when we need (a more) forceful action," said Anwar.

Some 100 representatives from PKR, PAS and DAP as well as non-governmental organisations such as Tenaganita, ABIM, JIM and Y4C were also present at the function.