Palestine

Will Conservative party puffery or NDP principle determine Canada's Palestine policy?

yves engler — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 19:59:38 +0000

The Conservative party leadership campaign has unleashed pro-Israel puffery, but it is the NDP race that could have greater impact on Canada's Palestine policy.

Aping Donald Trump, former Conservative minister Kellie Leitch recently asked her Twitter followers to "join me in calling on the Government of Canada to immediately move our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem." This would likely contravene international law.

Ezra Levant keeps shooting himself in the foot, again and again

John Miller — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 19:27:20 +0000

Ezra Levant is to Canadian political dialogue what The Iron Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher once were to big-time wrestling.

A cartoon figure.

A hateful blowhard.

At least with big-time wrestling, you got the entertainment.

With Levant, what you get are hate, lies, manipulated arguments, ill-advised stunts and his unshackled ego, none of which are entertaining, and much of which is just cruel and ill-informed.

He's a self-styled troublemaker who always seems to find himself in trouble.

Millionaire patrons of Jewish studies in Canada more interested in pro-Israel lobby than anti-racism

yves engler — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 19:52:41 +0000

Is a school lesson plan, widely used across Canada, designed to fight racism like its promoters say? Or is it also a clever cover for defending Jewish and white supremacy in the Middle East?

A recent 12-page Canadian Jewish News insert about Elizabeth and Tony Comper raises the issue. According to the supplement, in 2005 the Bank of Montreal head and his wife Elizabeth started Fighting Anti-Semitism Together (FAST), a coalition of non-Jewish business leaders and prominent individuals. FAST sponsored a lesson plan for grades six to eight called "Choose Your Voice: Antisemitism in Canada."

Justin Trudeau follows Stephen Harper's lead in Israel and Palestine

gerry caplan — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 19:12:50 +0000

The Prime Minister dispatched Governor General David Johnston to the Middle East recently on a mission that largely wasted everybody's time.

The GG was instructed to articulate the government's position favouring the creation of an independent Palestine living in peace next to Israel: "a two-state solution and a just, long-standing and comprehensive peace."

The GG's tour, so the media were informed, is part of the Liberal government's effort to "recalibrate" Canada's policy in the Middle East. Justin Trudeau promises a more "balanced" position after a decade of Pavlovian Conservative support for Israel in any and all circumstances.

Green Party compromise on BDS motion offers win for everyone -- and plenty of confusion

the views expressed — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 19:49:47 +0000

The Green Party convention this past weekend offered a win for everyone. Sort of.

The convention was held to clarify the Greens' position vis-à-vis economic pressure on Israel for its human rights abuses. Green leader Elizabeth May was so opposed to an August resolution condemning Israel's human rights abuses that she had threatened to resign. Influential party activists sought to preserve their August win while maintaining party unity.

More than 50 cultural and political icons urge Green Party to stay the course on BDS

the views expressed — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 18:49:33 +0000

More than 50 cultural and political figures released the following open letter today, calling for the Green Party of Canada not to reverse its party policy established at convention in August, where it overwhelmingly voted to support the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement in opposition to Israel's occupation of Palestine.

Why can't we have a real, open debate on Israel and Palestine?

the views expressed — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 19:42:28 +0000

Last month, The Vancouver Sun printed a remarkable apology to Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada. The Sun editorial board had published a piece in August claiming that IJV -- a Jewish organization -- had denied the Holocaust and encouraged terrorism against Israelis. The only problem was, they were dead wrong.

'Canada is back' to isolating itself from world opinion on Palestinian rights

yves engler — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 16:18:14 +0000

How can you identify a Canadian Liberal? They talk to the left, but walk to the right.

Under Justin Trudeau, "Canada is back" to isolating itself from world opinion on Palestinian rights.

Atlantic Jewish Council doesn't speak for all Jewish Haligonians on Pinkwashing

IJV — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 13:39:31 +0000

The Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC) took over Halifax Pride's Annual General Meeting the evening of October 5, packing it with over 200 people, an action that one Palestinian activist likened to "an occupation."

Halifax Pride is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer (LGBTQ+) association whose main activity is organizing that city's Pride Week every July. The AJC is the mainstream body that claims to represent Halifax's 1,500 Jews.

Anti-Palestinian media bias still remains untouchable even to Canada's media critics

yves engler — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 08:44:58 +0000

Media coverage of world affairs mostly focuses on Ottawa's and Washington's perspectives. While the dominant media is blatant in its subservience to Canadian and Western power, even independent media is often afraid to challenge the foreign policy status quo.

A recent Canadaland podcast simultaneously highlighted anti-Palestinian media bias and the fear liberal journalists face in discussing one of the foremost social justice issues of our time. The media watchdog's discussion of the Green Party's recent resolutions supporting Palestinian rights started strong with Canadaland publisher Jesse Brown laying out three claims:

Eva Manly: The people of Palestine are not forgotten

rabble staff — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 17:10:28 +0000

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

The Women's Boat to Gaza wants to bring a message of solidarity and hope to Gaza. And, most importantly, for the focus to be back on Gaza.

On September 14, the Women's Boat to Gaza set sail from Barcelona on the way to Gaza to draw attention to the Palestinian struggle. Two boats, the Zaytouna and Amal, will carry the all-female crews to Ajaccio, and then to Gaza, drawing international attention to the resistance of the women of Gaza in particular.

An open letter to the Peel Catholic School Board from Jewish Canadians in support of Nadia Shoufani

rabble staff — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 21:04:34 +0000

Friday, September 2, 2016

Ms. Shoufani's suspension from the DPCDSB on the basis of her support for Palestine is a dangerous infringement of her freedom of speech.

We, the undersigned, Jewish Canadians, are writing in support of Nadia Shoufani, a teacher in the Peel Catholic School Board who has recently been suspended pending an investigation by the Ontario College of Teachers.

Ms. Shoufani's suspension was instigated by complaints from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), B'nai Brith, and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center regarding Ms. Shoufani's active voice in support of Palestinian rights.

May's behaviour unbecoming for a federal leader

the views expressed — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:06:43 +0000

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Elizabeth May should apologize to Green Party members. May's behaviour since the Green Party convention a few weeks ago has not only left the public deeply confused, but also humiliated party members.

An open letter to Elizabeth May regarding BDS

dbancrof — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 04:32:49 +0000

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Dear Elizabeth May,

Please don't resign over Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions.

Canadian Greens should vote to revoke Jewish National Fund charitable status

yves engler — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 08:18:01 +0000

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Despite a backlash evocative of those who defended the Jim Crow U.S. South, Canadian Green Party members recently voted in favor of a resolution calling on Ottawa to stop subsidizing racist land covenants. Next weekend the Greens will make a final decision on whether they support the principles underlying a half-century old Supreme Court of Canada decision outlawing discriminatory land-use policies.