Combatting Anti-Semitism or Shielding Israel?

Professor Joanne Naiman's submission to the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism":

How can I find this entire submission?

Here you go, Jaku.

I just sent this to :

Hello

The footer of your website indicates a link to full info about dates and witnesses. However, that link is broken. Where might I obtain this information? And could you please fix the link?

Also, as a citizen I'd like to express my concern regarding your use of a contact address in a government building, since your site states that you are "unaffiliated with the Government of Canada." The Centre Block is a government building, and my assumption was and in fact remains that you are indeed operating as a government initiative. Could you please clarify this?

thank you

(signed)

Submission from "For Free Expression on Palestine":

http://www.freeexpressionpalestine.org/node/12

There was an article in the paper over the weekend from one of the chairs of the commission against anti-semitism - who is a Labour party MP. There was not a single solitary word in it about Israel or Palestine or Zionism etc... (are you disappointed??). Instead, it was all about a resurgence of anti-semitism and xenophobia among far-right neo-fascists in places like Poland and Hungary. I think we can all agree that that is something evil that needs to be taken seriously.

Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism is a joke.

I didn't know you were a sympathizer of rightwing xenophobes and anti-semites and Holocaust deniers in Hungary and Poland.

Are you calling Max a racist? Isn't that against babble policy?

This organization is worse than a joke. It is an ultra-right front, Bnai Brith style, pushing the London Declaration and other such garbage. Stockholm, dont connect yourself with these creeps please. And dont start attacking people here either.

Stockholm, have you bothered to listen to the entire two-hour audio of the first set of hearings on Monday? I just did.

It's true that MacShane and Weisskirchen sound like articulate, thoughtful people, however tilted though they obviously are to this unconstitutional inquiry, and MacShane seemed especially concerned with the resurgence of neo-fascism in Europe generally (not just Eastern Europe), as you say.

The second panel was an entirely different story, and Max's reaction sounds entirely reasonable to me after an hour spent listening to Cotler, Rickman, and Small, the latter two (Americans, although Small comes from Canada) so clearly heavily invested in Islamophobia and the "clash of civilizations" that they can't even recognize it as such. Cotler might as well have been reading the CJC written submission. And Scott Reid is appalling.

Just because you don't like people trying to claim that criticism of Israel is anti-semitic (and I don't like it either), doesn't mean that we should then turn a blind eye to actual evidence of disturbing increases in anti-semitism among rightwing xenophobes in eastern Europe. Its called not thrpowing the baby out with the bathwater.

In fact, I welcome them spending more time exposing "old-fashioned" rightwing xenophobic anti-semitism since as far as i can tell that is just about the only form of anti-semitism that actually exists to any significant degree in the world today (I consider theories about the socalled "new-fashioned" anti-semitism of the left to be a myth)

Stockholm, if you took the time to listen to the Canadians and Americans on the second panel, or to the few committee members who spoke at enough length to reveal an orientation, you'd know that this committee is not about neo-fascism in Eastern Europe.

As I say, not even Dennis MacShane was claiming that Eastern Europe was the sole or main problem when he talked about neo-fascism in Europe. I don't know why you'd want to stay fixed there.

You know what I don't like, Stockholm? I don't like McCarthyism. I don't like to read or listen to people who are either cynical or ignorant enough to equate the Charter (ie: the basic principles and structures, the foundation stones of democracy and THE LAW) with soft-headed, intellectually sloppy, Disneyfied notions like "our shared Canadian values."

MPs have absolutely no business mucking about with whatever "values" any Canadian citizen might hold. That isn't their job, and I doubt that many are competent even to speak to the topic. And I've got section 2 of the Charter to back me up. The Charter is not bricklefritzin' Americanized "values"-think -- it is the codification of the necessary and sufficient conditions of democracy.

These people are so far out of their depth that it's scary.

It looks like NDPers Pat Martin and Judy Wasylycia-Leis are members of the Flat Earth Committee. 

http://www.cpcca.ca/about.htm

Oh, and Irwin Cotler is a lunatic:

http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/methodical-expose-of-lunatic-irwin-cotl...

Max, I wish people wouldn't use that word -- lunatic. I'm an Alzheimer's widow.

I agree, however, that Irwin Cotler is hardly the champion of civil liberties that we were all promised he would be when he was first elected.

That's the understatement of the year.  Cotler is the Canadian Alan Dershowitz. 

Well, Finkelstein dices and slices Cotler. It's rather impressively detailed scholarship.

... and so on. A merciless, and richly deserved drubbing.

I assumed that we could at least all agree that anti-semitism is a bad thing and that the only debate is over the degree to which its a problem and what exactly constitutes anti-semitism. I assumed (perhaps naively) that being against anti-semitism was a "motherhood issue". I guess i was mistaken.

If you think its wrong to discuss combatting anti-semitism then I guess you must also be opposed to any discussing or any programs to combat racism, sexism, homophobia or islamophobia etc... If that's the case, I'm surprised at what opinions people will have on what's supposed to be a progressive board.

He's actually citing the report of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.  They are a wonderful group.

But yeah Finkelstein is a first-rate scholar whose academic career was ruined - because the powers that be were freightened of the truths he exposes and thus wanted to muzzle him.

This group is supposed to be about combatting anti-semitism in general and some of you keep on trying to make this into another debate about Israel and Palestine. I think that it can be perfectly consistent to be critical of Israel while NOT being anti-semitic - so why do you keep trying to side track this into being about the Middle East when it should be about actual hatred of Jews which is a phenomenon that believe it or not existed long before Israel existed.

It has nothing to do with combating anti-Semitism, this farce of a committee is entirely concerned with stopping criticism of Israel.  Jews are the wealthiest ethnic group in Canada.   They are prominent in the media, academia, business, etc.   Groups that lack the social capital that Jews have - like Black Canadians and Muslims - don't get specific parliamentary committees fighting against the much more pervasive discrimination those groups face. 

Anti-Semitism in Canada barely exists.  Yet you'd get the impression from this committee that barely a day in Canada passes without a pogrom. 

Stockholm, this coalition is not about "combatting anti-semitism in general". Read the submission from Joanne Naiman posted earlier up this thread. Allow me to quote from her: ""To sum up then, the data indicate that the Jewish population of Canada is, overall, socioeconomically advantaged, and that the number of hate crimes against Jews has been dropping. What, then, is the "problem of anti-Semitism" that your committee is asking governments to address? The reality is that what is repeatedly being referred to as "new anti-Semitism" is actually an escalating critique of the policies of the State of Israel."

Then read what the "coalition" says... cause if you're uncertain (or obfuscating) about the real intent of this, they're certainly not: "Antisemitism is an age-old phenomenon, yet it is always re-invented and manifested in different ways. For example, while accusations of blood libel are still being made against the Jewish people, instead they are being directed against the State of Israel, such that anti-Zionism is being used as a cover for antisemitism.

· This problem is especially prevalent on campuses where Jewish students are ridiculed and intimidated for any deemed support for the "Nazi" and "apartheid" State of Israel, which is claimed to have no right to exist.

· The problem is also exemplified by individuals and governments who call for the destruction of the State of Israel and its inhabitants."

Never mind that the vast majority of The State of Israel's critics are not calling for its destruction or linking Israel to "blood libel"; never mind that ridiculing (where this actually happens) is not itself anti-Semitic. And if none of this convinces you, do keep in mind that most of the strongest critics of this "new anti-Semitism" campaign are themselves Jewish. And more power to them.

Well then the solution is to form parliamentary committees fighting against other forms of discrimination. You could also say the same stereotypes about gays - they are all wealthy designers and entertainers and they are prominent in media and politics etc... ergo homophobia doesn't exist.

and how cares if Jews are wealthier or poorer that anyone else. They were pretty wealthy in Germany in the 30s and they were pretty wealthy in Spain during the Inquisition - and that didn't stop them from being massacred.

If this committee actually is a "farce" and is actually singularly and solely interested in stopping criticism of Israel - then you may have a point. But so far the one thing I've read was a long piece in the Star on Sunday by one of the co-chairs which never mentioned Israel at all but recounted the disturbing rise of fascism, xenophobia and anti-semitism in Europe with particularly scary examples of neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers being elected to Parliament in some countries of of paramilitary groups being formed. The British national party which is both anti-semitic and islamophobic and racist was also singled out.

The committee itself makes the claim that anti-Semitism is at its worst levels since World War II - and their "evidence" is how pro-Israel students are being "intimidated" on university campuses.  Pretty thin if you ask me.

Heck, I've only suffered from anti-Semitism once in my life as a kid - and it was very minor.  As an adult it's never been an issue.   

Jews in Budapest have a very different story to tell what with the neo-Nazi Jobbik party being on the rise. I agree that anti-semitism is not a particularly big deal in Canada today - but that doesn't mean it isn't an issue in the rest of the world. 

I've never personally experienced homophobia in my entire life - but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist for other people.

Stockholm, the point is that we need to be aware of the real reasons behind this coalition and its hearings. Otherwise we get played for suckers by those who want to hide behind genuine anti-Semitism elsewhere while using that fig leaf to repress criticism of Israel here.  They ain't interested in Budapest or anywhere else in Eastern Europe, especially since the stated goal of this group is anti-Semitism in Canada. This is a serious threat to freedom of expression, so let's not get sidetracked here.

I'm happy for you that you are so certain what the "real" reasons are behind this coalition. If they aren't interested in rightwing anti-semitism in eastern Europe then why was the chair of the committee's entire op-ed column in the star exclusively devoted to it - made virtually no mention of Israel?

If I was an MP, I would enthusiastically join the committee and try to steer it towards investigating ACTUAL anti-semitism in Canada - which would mean investigating WASP country clubs, Keegstra type Holocaust deniers and tin foil hat brigade members in in Alberta and remnants of the Western Guard and the Heritage Front - and hate mongering websites and Holocaust denial etc... and IF I found that the committee was not interested in pursuing any of those issues and instead just wanted to covertly support Israel - I would call a new conference and denounce the committee and resign. But i think that at first we should give them the benefit of the doubt.

And I would firmly denounce you for doing that.

Who the hell do our MPs think they are? And has none of them read the Charter?

The Charter does not codify frikken' "shared Canadian values." It codifies the necessary and sufficient conditions for democracy. The freedom to hold all opinions beyond that must be defended if we are to preserve democracy, as section 2 tells us.

People can join whatever committee they want, what does the Charter have to do with anything? There are committees addressing countless topics that the Charter says nothing about. so what? Are you saying that because the Charter of Rights and Freedoms doesn't explicitly state that "Members of Parliament shall form a committee to combat anti-semitism" that means that there is something illegitimate about combatting anti-semitism? The Charter doesn't say anything about hate crimes either - should we therefore scrap all human rights commissions and hate crimes legislation?

"People" can, yes. Citizens can.

And if Scott Reid wants to start off his moral lectures by saying, "I am speaking now as Scott Reid, Canadian citizen, not as a parliamentarian with any public power behind me," then that's ok by me and ain't nobody gonna mess with him, however silly the things he says might be.

The trouble is, that's not what these bloviators are doing. They are presuming to speak with public authority not just about those things they are entitled to speak of that way -- the Charter among those things -- but about "our shared Canadian values," many of which I guarantee you many other citizens are not going to share with them and do not have to share with them.

I see that they are claiming to be an independent group, but once that hearing got going on Monday, that's not how they sounded. I don't know how many times I heard people on all sides speak of the special responsibilities of parliamentarians. On the Charter, ok. On my "values"? Stuff it.

If you read the CJC submission, you'll see that Bernie and Co definitely consider this committee to have public authority and definitely expect that its conclusions and recommendations will be translated into public policy of all kinds. You can also see vistas of grant funding opening up -- the Court Challenges program may be dead, but things are looking up for studies in antisemitism. All that is just presumed.

There's something very wrong when North Americans can't recognize the mechanisms of McCarthyism starting up again, because that's what this is. We read this a.m. that John Boehner, the U.S. House Minority (Republican) leader, doesn't know the difference between the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and that, I figure, is about par for the course among public servants on this continent. They don't know and they don't care, because they don't give a flying fig for democracy.

Aux armes, citoyens! Let's remind them who works for whom.

People around here know that my family was almost entirely murdered by anti-semites over a two-year period. The lesson I try to learn from that is that racism and fascism and genocide are evil - not that Jews are "special". Jews are not special.

In the sacred memory of my lost family members, I condemn these right-wing champions of Israel for banding together, in 2009, in the name of the Canadian people, in a coalition to allegedly combat anti-semitism, alone among hateful ideologies and practices.

Even if they were sincere - which of course they are not (as their only interest is Israel) - such a coalition of parliamentarians would be profoundly misguided.

I wrote to my MP to ask about the CPCCA:

I thought that our "shared Canadian values" included opposition to all forms of racial discrimination including anti-semitism. I applaud the creation of a committee to combat anti-semitism and i hope that this sets an example and that we can have other commons committees following the same model that are formed to address homophobia, islamophobia, sexism, anti-First Nations sentiment etc...

Its pretty sad when you can't say "I oppose anti-semitism" without being a accused of having a hidden agenda to shut down any criticism of Israel.

I think you have the wrong end of the stick on this one Stockholm. The other contributors to this thread have explained the situation and concerns clearly, so I won't repeat what they said. I admire their patience.

In fairness to Stockholm, he's pretty awful on most matters of foreign policy. Ya might as well read the Papal Infallibility of the US State Department.

In case anyone wants to understand the sinister origins of this group, just read the London Declaration.

It's about shutting down criticism of israel, attacking the Durban conference, etc.

YOu mean opposing and combatting Holocaust denial and trivialization is really about shutting down criticism of Israel and attacking the Durban conference?  Who knew???

It seems like now you can no longer express opposition to anti-semitism without being accused of supporting Israeli foreign policy.

Israeli "foreign policy"? Is that what you call the occupation of Palestine and the slaughter of Gaza? If I didn't know Stockholm so well for so long, I could easily forget I'm on a progressive discussion board.

Whatever you want to call it. I'd like to think that it is possible to oppose anti-semitism without it making any reference to the conflict in the Middle East. Hating and discriminating against someone for no other reaosn than their being Jewish - in my opinion, is wrong and should be combatted whereever and whenever possible. I guess some  people disagree - that's their right. If anyone would like to make the case for why they think anti-semitism is acceptable and should NOT ever be opposed - I'd be curious to hear their arguments.

http://www.cpcca.ca/about.htm

I read that link and there is one minor reference to Israel along with lots of other stuff. i don't believe in throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Stockholm, you're perfectly free to believe that this committee isn't about shutting down criticism of Israeli government policy.   You're also perfectly free if you'd like to believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

Personally, I lean towards Agnosticism when it comes to the latter three.

Israel stinks! Jews from Asia given the land of the Palestinians, and continuing to steal what's left. Bomb the rightful owners with white phosphorous and drop DU bombs which will affect their children for the next four and one half billion years. If the Jews didn't control the media they would never get away with their fascist war crimes. So go ahead, call me anti-semitic, call me a neo nazi. ask about my boots for all I care - but you can't change the facts of what Israel is visiting on the mid-east and America (and Canada) by continuing to cry about a holocaust which may or may not have happened (and why is it illegal to forensically examine the 'extermination camps' when many of the Jewish people themselves have called the 'gas chambers' a hoax? And why is it illegal to question the holocaust when research has shown that the 'six million' figure was something dreamed up and tried after the first world war and doesn't even hold water after the second? Fear and propaganda, that's why. Argue and you will be labeled racist, neo-nazi and worse: you will be charged with the 'crime' of questioning 'history.' It's a crock!

Maybe if you were the mother of child born with horrendous deformities two thousand (or ten thousand, or twenty thousand) years from now as a gift from the Israeli bombing policies of today you would have a different opinion of the Jews.  Here is a link to a site which might open your eyes: [link removed by moderator]

And no, I'm not a Nazi or a white supremacist or any of the other labels; just an intelligent person who has re-examined the 'history of the victors' and who has seen enough of pointless wars which only benefit the rich and well connected.

Mods advised.

No problem.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out–
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for all who questioned the Jews, and I did not speak out–
because I did not question 'history';
Then they came for me–
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I've emailed the mods again. Think this Nazi joker is a plant by the CPCCA, aimed at justifying their existence?

Lord Palmerston wrote:

'So go ahead, call me anti-semitic, call me a neo nazi.'

'no problem'

Typical yellow journalism. Quote me out of context and pretend you have an argument. BTW, you didn't address even one of my points.

Unionist

Still no argument of any salient points. What a shame... only threats and ad hominem attacks.

You are a truly repulsive person.  Get the fuck off this board.

And I don't even want to know about your boots.

If the CPCCA and their ilk were not so quick to equate any disagreement, protest, or questioning of Israeli foreign policy into an anti-semitic strawman, then it would not be an issue.

Exactly. The only issue then would be - why would members of parliament band together against anti-semitism specifically? Why not a parliamentary coalition against homophobia - against Canadian wars abroad - against poverty? Obviously, without the agenda of supporting Harperite pro-Israel slavering at home and abroad, the "coalition" would lose its raison d'être.

He's banned.

If one participant admires the "patience" of others here towards Stockholm, I rather wonder how he has patience for them.

An extraordinary elderly resident in our neighbourhood quietly to us expressed already a few years ago that there are similarities "in the air" now to what this person experienced around 70 years ago. There were unspeakable repercussions then, and while normally opinions of someone so devastated are only with much reservation to be accepted prescriptively, there is very much to be said for trusting perceptions of the experienced.

I bring that comment to counterbalance another contributor's condemnation with the background of personal loss from that period. I don't know what that neighbourhood confidant would say about the committee in question. But I would like to add that I was driven away in disgust from this forum during the last major violence in & around Gaza, by the outrageous words harboured on this forum, that if applied to any other group would most likely be found to be excludable & reprehensible.

While I would probably differ sharply from Stockholm on many matters, he's mainly in the right here. What kind of intelligent estimate is this, "the vast majority of The State of Israel's critics are not calling for its destruction"? Is this myopic arithmetic characteristic of all those opposing Stockholm? On another thread I was asking for help to learn to like the Canadian left...

There is a place for balanced sharp criticism of Israel, even from afar; there is a place for a singular committee to show that such committees, for what they're worth, can be formed for other groups as well. Does nothing have face value? There is even physical intimidation felt by some Jewish people in Canada where little or none has been felt before.  Even were this manipulative intimidation, the basic theme of public leadership speaking forcefully against it cannot be wholly comdemnable. The verbal anti-Israel grotesqueries I witnessed on babble, is that what you all feel is threatened?

NAZI jokers like this are the reason parliamentarians of all stripes  have established the CPCCA.

Good for them.

Some people have more time to waste than others.

Michelle, I just love a clean floor.

Thank you for your perceptive (perhaps unwitting) admission and conclusion that this "coalition" is formed to defend Israel - not Jews.

I am "some Jewish people", and I'm struggling to grasp how you could have formed such a science-fictional opinion. Give me one credible example.

my "admission" and "conclusion"? how could you read what i wrote that way? (you couldn't have done so "unwittingly"...)

when such a reader begins to understand that there is some legitimacy to close linkage of Jewish people and Israel, even in terms of defending the former, even if not in direct ways, even if some ways are detestable; when i see a "unionist" grasp this connexion, i'll be less uncomfortable with what passes for the left these days

as for "science fiction", i guess unionist knows nothing about some university campus activities in the recent past -- who knows, maybe unionist was egging on some pretty physical expressions among anti-"zionists", and we might not agree on what constitutes intimidation or even violence for Canadian purposes

So, throw down, dude! Surprise us all with some shining examples

Quite honestly, there is a lot hyperbole thrown around by people on both sides of the Middle East conflict where they try to make into something that its not. So you get this crazy stuff where people on the pro-Israel side claim that any hostility directed at them is "anti-semitism", then like clocjkwork, the other side will claim that if you are hostile towards the pro-Palestinian militants - its an example of Islamophobia etc... In reality, I see no evidence that anyone is being discriminated against simply for being Jewish or Muslim - instead you have people in Canada who are rooting for opposite sides in the Middle East conflict getting into fights. Its not about anyone hating anyone for no other reason than their religion or ethnicity - instead its mostly a proxy war being fought in Canada between sympathizers of the two protoganists in the Middle East. Its no different from Serbs and Croats in Mississauga rouging each other up during the war in the 90s.

All that being said, I don't think you can claim that anti-semitism is 100% non-existent in Canada. But to the extent that the real thing exists, its mostly from rightwing xenophobes and fringe neo-Nazis in English Canada, plus the usual tiny minority of ethnocentric retrograde Quebec nationalists, plus religious freaks who still thinki all Jews are "Christ-killers", plus a few old-line jaw-wired-shut country club WASPs who think that Jess talk too much and are uncouth, plus a small minority of Muslims who are so agitated about Palestine that they they have allowed they hostility towards Israel to morph into a hostility towards all Jews - and they are counter-balanced by Jews who have allowed their hostility towards Hamas etc... to morph into a general negative view of all Muslims.

Nonsense. You are such a partisan of Israel that you don't even listen to what you call the "other side". Palestinians were oppressed, and fighting back, long before there were any "Muslim" organizations representing their struggle. Opposition to Palestinian rights and toadying to the Israeli mass murderers has nothing to do with "Islamophobia". In fact, to paint the Palestinian resistance as "Islamic" in nature is xenophobic in itself. Islam has nothing to do with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

That may be so, but these days it seems like unless you are 100% anti-Israel and 100% pro-Palestinian and unless you call for Israel to cease to exist - you get accused of being anti-Muslim. It seems to happen here all the time.

Stockholm's anti-Jewish census sure adds up to a lot of people...

But he is missing the most dire elements of all, when a cause with some justice to it is piggybacked on by one with none. And too many louder ones on the left don't know what's going on either, ending up playing not only into the hands of those they share almost nothing politically with (like, say, Hamas), but, worse, missing how they are being used by those of no just cause whatsoever.

Does merowe really want an example? Say a genuine yes & I'll refer you to some trenchant comment that has gotten the commenter some rather unfriendly attention.

If that is a picture of unionist rolling around, it's ok, I'll avert my eyes, and feel sorry for the Stockholms and quieter others who have to make common cause with those who harm their own.

Okay, I'll bite, DV: you cite some "some university campus activities in the recent past" as a concrete example of the worsening problem of anti-Semitism in Canada. At least, I think that's what you were doing. To be honest I find you a bit hard to read, so correct my impression if it's wrong.

Please give examples of these anti-Semitic university campus activities, with external links, and explain how your examples repsesent anti-Semitism.

And DV: I stand by my math. The vast majority of the State of Israel's critics are not calling for its destruction. Note that "critic" does not equal "opponent". Quite the opposite, in fact. Unfortunately, many native speakers of English choose to conflate the two words.

Just to be clear, among those critics of the State of Israel's we have : all the nations who voted to endorse the Goldstone report (and there were many); Gush Shalom and its Israeli Jewish leader, Uri Avnery; ICAHD and its Israeli Jewish chair, Jeff Halpner; Palestinian Christians like those represented by Sabeel; numerous South African unions, churches and civil society groups; and here in Canada Independent Jewish Voices, Palestine Freedom of Expression, Women in Black, virtually every mainline Protesentant church in Canada (adding up to about 5 million people), to name only a few.

There's my math. If you have some numbers that suggest that the majority of groups or people criticising Israel are simultaneously calling for its destruction, feel free to offer them here, with sources.

I find DV's last posting incomprehensible.

At last - we agree. But for God's sake, please don't ask him to explain it.

So tell me DV, has the formation of this committee inspired the formation of any other parliamentary committees, lets say, for example, to combat anti-islam or systemic racism against people of Arab descent? 

There is certainly evidence of that, even at the highest levels of government. Just a few examples - Arar, Abdelrazik, Suaad Mohamud, Omar Khadr, Makhtal, Bahari, Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Elmaati, and Muayyed Nureddin.

These Canadians have endured horrific consequences because of the actions (or inactions) of our federal government; far worse than any harm inflicted on any Jewish people in Canada by assorted vandals armed with cans of spray paint.

The definition of semetic also happens to include Arabs as well as Jewish people.  Maybe this committee could expand its narrow definition of anti-semitism to include racism and hatred directed against all semetic peoples.  Then they could include on their agenda a discussion of this disgusting ad [75] that appeared in the National Post as one of the more outrageous examples of inciting hatred against a race and religion.

I think the the very existence of the CPCCA helps to enable the systemic arab racism evident in Canada today. There are certain special interest groups that have way too much influence on our politics and perceptions. I am not making this up [76].

I wonder what the CPCCA would have to say about this article:

The west should feel shame for it's collusion with torturers by Robert Fisk, The Independent,  March 14, 2009

"So tell me DV, has the formation of this committee inspired the formation of any other parliamentary committees, lets say, for example, to combat anti-islam or systemic racism against people of Arab descent? "

If it hasn't then my reaction is that people are asleep at the switch. Now is the PERFECT time to call for the formation of a parliamentary committee to combat anti-islamism and/or anti-arabism. What are we waiting for?? Let's get with the program. Don't think its going to happen because you post something in babble, start calling MPs and Muslim organizations and ask them what it will take to get the ball rolling!!

These committees are too specific. Clearly the problem is that people are thinking and discussing matters of foreign policy, and political issues generally. We can't have that, it's just too dangerous. Honestly, what is going on? Not enough good shows on television? Let's start a parliamentary committee to investigate this, and more importantly, come up with some recommendations on how to put a stop to this.

From Naomi Lakritz in an op-ed piece from the Calgary Herald, December 23, 2009

My Wish for Christmas - no anti-semitism

So promoting Israel Apartheid week is an atrocity and condemning the Gaza massacre is the same as denying Israel's right to exist? And remaining silent on the siege of Gaza, which continues to this day, is entirely consistent with your twisted distortion of the truth.

Congratulations Ms. Lakritz, by making these outrageous statements and calling those who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause  left-wing goose-steppers, you just did more to promote anti semitism in this country than all the swastikas spray-painted around Calgary in the last month.  Hitler would be pleased.

calgary herald is owned by canwest global.. canwest is a propaganda tool used on the canuck public regularly with more of the same here... the sooner canwest goes completely bankrupt, the better off canucks will be... there are many better ways to getting informed... canwest is headed in the opposite direction in this regard....

I hope that this is the current thread on the CPCCA -- I wasn't quite sure how to search. Please forgive if I'm in the wrong place.

I'm wondering what happens to that committee during the prorogation. They have three meetings scheduled in January and February, the first, interestingly, on 25 January, the day Parliament was supposed to return. I think that at one of those meetings they were going to be calling university administrators on the carpet and the other two were reserved for law-enforcement persons.

I know that they claim to be independent of the government/Parliament, but they seem to think that being parliamentarians (a term they use all the time) confers some right on them, and they get to use that expensive real estate in the Centre Block. I don't think they've published their sources of funding yet. We don't actually get much from them except for audios of their sessions (which are fascinating, mind you -- Carolyn Bennett and Hedy Fry made Julian Fantino sound, by comparison, like a constitutional scholar and defender of civil liberties).

So will they continue with their meetings, or will they not? And under what authority?

Duh! They suspended democracy, not the paychecks.  Everybody has a holiday now to enjoy the Olympics. Who wants to go to meetings and who gives a shit about the CPCCA anyway?

Life in Ottawa is friggin' fantastric man.  You should come out here and join the party!

Harper is doing a good job of gradually eating into the Liberals' traditional strength in the Jewish vote.  They have been asleep at the switch, and voters are gradually leaving them.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1137409.html

There was a drop in Jewish support for the Liberals from '06 to '08.  But since then, Ignatieff has taken a very pro-Israel stance identical to the Tories and I don't see any evidence as to Harper has making further gains.  I don't think those ridiculous flyers have convinced anybody to switch.  This is not to say the Liberals can't tank further - but that has to do with the general trend.  I don't think it will have anything to do with Harper's pathetic attempts to portray himself as some sort of modern-day Raoul Wallenberg.

I don't know. I'm sure Harper is doing a great job attracting these sorts of votes, but in my view he can have them. I don't have the stats (do you?), but I'd like to think most Jewish people see Harper and Co. for what they are.

So, we're spending tax dollars to organize a committee in Canada, to fight against anti-semitism in Poland and Hungary?
There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that, although I presume we must therefore have committees to fight against homophobia in different countries around the world, as well as Islamophobia, and let's not forget about the perpetual discrimination and harassment that the Roma peoples face.

I would be curious to know what kind of tax dollars are being spent for the above mentioned groups, and what committees have been established to address these needs, given that we are such a generous nation, that we can afford to have a committee for each international injustice around the world.

Article from Embassy Mag, posted here in its entirety as it's subscription only:

The line between real criticism and anti-Semitism
The question of what constitutes legitimate criticism of Israel has taken on a life of its own in Ottawa.
By Lee Berthiaume
Published February 10, 2010

Amidst a broad warning to Canadian NGOs doing work in the Middle East, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney painted a blurry picture on Monday of the line he and the government draw between legitimate criticism of Israel and veiled anti-Semitism.
His comments came days after Israel's finance minister lauded the Conservative government's unquestioning support for his country, particularly Prime Minister Stephen Harper's public position that criticism of Israel equals anti-Semitism.

They also come as an increasing number of critics and observers charge that debate on Canada's Middle East policy is being squashed inside and outside government through a campaign of intimidation that includes charges of anti-Semitism being thrown around at will.

Over the past few months, funding has been cut or threatened to be cut to a number of NGOs the government has labelled anti-Semitic. Meanwhile, discord at Rights and Democracy has largely boiled down to arguments over the government-funded agency's support for human rights organizations in the region. And the government has started moving away from a UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees.

These recent developments have brought the Harper government's pro-Israel stance under increased public scrutiny. Yet the position is far from new. In addition to throwing Canada's unconditional support behind Israel at the UN, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, various government officials have publicly denounced any criticism of the country.

"I guess my fear is what I see happening in some circles is anti-Israeli sentiment, really just as a thinly disguised veil for good old-fashioned anti-Semitism, which I think is completely unacceptable," Mr. Harper said in a radio interview in May 2008.

On Monday, Mr. Kenney appeared before the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism, an all-party group that is looking at the issue in Canada. During his appearance, Mr. Kenney spent a great deal of time talking about the steps the Conservative government is taking to address anti-Semitism in Canada and abroad.

At one point, NDP member Judy Wasylycia-Leis asked about Mr. Kenney's statement in Jerusalem in December that CIDA funding to ecumenical development group KAIROS was cut because of its activities in the Middle East. He maintained that the decision was taken by CIDA Minister Bev Oda because the organization did not meet the aid agency's priorities and that he never discussed the issue with Ms. Oda.

However, he did issue a wider warning to NGOs in general.

"When I see organizations that take a particular focus, critical focus on Israel," he said, "but they never say anything about the treatment of religious minorities in most of the other countries of that region. When they never talk about the concentration camps in North Korea. When they never denounce the execution of homosexuals in Iran. When they never talk about the union leaders that are imprisoned in Cuba. When they have a particular focus on the actions of the only Jewish country in the world, I find that to be problematic.

"Language which draws a parallel between Israel and the illegitimate criminal regime of the apartheid South African state, for example, I find to be crossing the line towards a kind of anti-Semitic, anti-Zionism."

Mr. Kenney alleged that KAIROS has a document on its website that tells individuals and organizations how to boycott and sanction Israeli goods and services and divest themselves of investments.

"This is an organization that has been involved in the BDS campaign and I think that organization has been disingenuous in denying its advocacy of boycott, divestment and sanctions," he said. "I personally would like that organization to explain why...so much of its advocacy has been focused on the liberal democratic Jewish state of Israel."

However, towards the end of the session, Liberal member Irwin Cotler asked Mr. Kenney how he distinguishes between legitimate criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism.

"I would say that criticism of Israel which is clearly predicated on a view of Israel as a criminal enterprise," Mr. Kenney said, "as a state which is guilty of massive crimes against humanity simply for engaging in the normal responsibilities of a state to protect its population from unprovoked attacks, I would say that criticisms of that nature go to the heart to the question. They are not criticisms based on particular policies or tactics. They are criticism of the existence of Israel in that sense as representing the collective Jew.

"I'm sorry if I don't have a clearer formulation, and there will always be a debate about where exactly the line is. But I think it's reasonably clear that there is a global effort with voices in Canada to, not just delegitimize, but demonize the Jewish state. And that I think is a very dangerous thing."

Applause and grumbles

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Thursday, Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz spoke highly of Canada's support for "a little tiny but very vibrant Jewish democracy struggling to survive, as I said, in one of the most difficult neighbourhoods on the face of the Earth."

During his two-day stop in Ottawa, Mr. Steinitz met with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, Treasury Board President Stockwell Day, Mr. Kenney and Minister of State for the Americas Peter Kent. He also met with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

"All of them expressed their friendship with Israel and their commitment to Israel's survivability," he said. "And it was very encouraging because we need friends, we need good friends, and this is very encouraging."

When asked if he agreed with Mr. Harper's assessment that all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, Mr. Steinitz was unequivocal.

"It's so deeply rooted in Germany and in Europe, some kind of anti-Semitism, that people disguise it," he said. "They have nothing against the Jewish people, but they are very critical of the Jewish state. And the Jewish state is getting ill-treatment, totally different treatment than any other state.

"I never heard a union or organization in Canada or Britain that is calling to boycott Russia because of how they are fighting in Chechnya. Or that is calling to boycott Britain because of what happened in Basra," he added. "So I think it is difficult to ignore the fact...that some of the criticism of Israel is totally unfair."

Mr. Steinitz said Israel is "pretty annoyed and frustrated by this. And we are very happy that people understand it."

But there are growing allegations inside government and in foreign policy circles that the government is taking too broad a view of what constitutes anti-Semitism, and that its "zero-tolerance" approach is stymieing any discussion of its pro-Israel position. In fact, critics say it has cast a chill on civil society, government officials and others who are working in the area.

"You just don't step out of line or they will come down on you like a ton of bricks in a way that no other government, regardless of political stripe, has ever done," said one source.

"People [inside government] have just clammed up and put their heads down," added one frustrated former official. "And people on the outside are still vulnerable. I feel intimidated at this stage."

That vulnerability comes through in several ways, the official said. First, there are those who are working on projects in the area but require Canadian government funding or support.

"You have to choose," the official said. "Do you believe in your project or do you risk speaking out and having your name in the paper?

The second is that reputations can be attacked with allegations of being anti-Semitic. Bahija Reghai, former president of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, said there is a sense the government is treating all criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic, either intentionally or unintentionally.

"I'm against anti-Semitism. It does exist," she said. "But let's separate it from Israel. Israel is a state, it's supposed to be a secular state. All of these things have been confused."

Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, who was the first-ever president of Rights and Democracy, which has been embroiled in its own internal fight because of Middle East politics, said he's never seen such a situation in his political lifetime.

"In broad terms, when you look at what both KAIROS and Rights and Democracy, where the government stepped over the line, in my view entirely, of what an impartial government should be doing...it's Middle East politics," he said.

"To say that anyone who looks critically at the human rights performance of Israel is anti-Israel or pro-terrorist is morally, deeply offensive. Because just as Canada's human rights record-whether it's on First Nations issues or other issues-it deserves to be critically examined. In spite of the fact that we're a democracy, we have our flaws, and so does Israel. And especially in a number of actions vis-à-vis the Palestinians, so it is entirely appropriate."

lee@embassymag.caw

I wonder if this hoax is going to be taken up by the House Un-Israeli Activities Committee

http://www.excal.on.ca/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79...

*

Canada's Efforts To Criminalize Criticism of Israel

http://seriouslyfreespeech.wordpress.com/cpcca/

"The Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA) is an ad hoc group of Canadian MPs. It is part of a world-wide attempt by individual supporters of Israel to expand the definition of antisemitism and criminalize criticism of Israel.."

This group appears to have focused on this issue and is a good source of info on it.

The Hateful Harper Harpies  and their racist, zionist attack dogs murdered a good man:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/foreign-minister-wades-in-to-rights-agency-mess/article1465067/\

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2010/02/11/rights-democracy-beau... [93]

This sort of shite actually promotes antisemitism. The more they squawk about criticism of Israel, the less people will listen when they point out the real thing.

Never cry Focke-Wulf.