An online petition urging the International Olympic Committee to honor the Munich 11 at the Olympic Games this summer has garnered thousands of signatures.

The Jewish Community Center of Rockland County, N.Y., a member of the JCC Association, initiated the petition, which calls for a moment of silence at the Games in London honoring the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered at the 1972 Olympics in Munich by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September.

The Jewish Federations of North America is asking communities to support the petition, whose backers are attempting to gather 1 million signatures.

The association has recognized the Munich 11 during every Maccabi Games since 1995.

In an official letter sent to the IOC on behalf of the State of Israel on April 23, Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon asked for the 2012 Games to open with a moment of silence honoring the 11 Israeli athletes. — jta