As much as I hate to give Stockholm the last word, I'm going to close this for length.
Not so fast, Mme. Moderatrice.
I couldn't let this go:
Yeah, well I think we also have to say that the anti-Israel freaks are also not entitled to treat the definition of Zionism convenient to them as if it is the only one either.
Gabba gabba hey!
By your works shall you be known.
This is another wake-up call for those who said there was no difference between a Harper government and all those that came before:
If that is supposed to mean that the Liberals are any different than the Tories on this question, may I remind you of this: [url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/02/17/... new anti-semitism, by Irwin Cotler[/u][/color][/url].
I agree, Spector. If you're trying to make a case that the Tories represent some sort of "unique evil" compared to the more tolerant Liberals, you haven't made it. There is no difference between the Liberals and Tories anymore when it comes to Israel.
In ideological terms, you're both correct, but I fail to understand how you can ignore the unparalleled international stances that Harper has taken which were unheard of in any previous regime:
the vote in the U.N. within days of the election of the Harper government;
first to cut off funding to the PA;
first (and only?) to boycott Durban II because of support for Israel;
the position on the wars in Lebanon and Gaza;
and now Kenney's attacks.
Cotler's rabid views were never turned into practice by his party. You are confusing inclination with policy. If such were the case, I could quote NDP individuals to the same effect.
Actually, for both of you to say this after Kenney's latest sorties means to me that you are saying "this is nothing new" and thus not worthy of any special action. I'd say you both need eye tests.
ETA: [url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/HMYT-6MRTP4?OpenDocument][c...'s my reference to the U.N. vote[/color][/url] in March 2006, where only Canada joined the U.S. in voting against an annual resolution on the mistreatment of Palestinian women refugees (Canada always voted in favour before):
Next, the Commission turned to the draft resolution on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women (document E/CN.6/2006/L.4), by which it would call on the concerned parties, as well as the international community, to exert all the necessary efforts to ensure the full resumption of the peace process on its agreed basis, taking into account the common ground already gained, and call for measures for tangible improvement of the difficult situation on the ground and the living conditions faced by Palestinian women and their families. The Commission would also reaffirm that the Israeli occupation remains a major obstacle for Palestinian women with regard to their advancement, self-reliance and integration in the development planning of their society.
In a related term, the Commission would demand that Israel, the occupying Power, comply fully with the provisions and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention in order to protect the rights of Palestinian women and their families. It would also call on Israel to facilitate the return of all refugees and displaced Palestinian women and children to their homes and properties.
The Commission would also call on the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian women and their families to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions.
The representative of South Africa presented a revision to preambular paragraph 8 of the text. That paragraph should now read “Welcoming the report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that addresses the issue of Palestinian pregnant women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints owing to denial of access by Israel to hospitals, with a view to ending this Israeli practice”.
Israel’s representative said she recognized the difficult situation faced by Palestinian women, but the text failed to assess the multiple causes of those difficulties. She called on the Commission to vote against the text. The Secretary-General’s report on the situation of Palestinian women was flawed and made unfounded claims. However, the document did refer to some important social factors in Palestinian society that inhibited the rights of Palestinian women. The report outlined details of patriarchal biases that had limited the rights of Palestinian women. For example, women in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were killed or threatened with death for tarnishing family honour.
The draft resolution, year after year, failed to recognize the reality on the ground, she said. If terrorism did not exist, Palestinian women would live without the detriment of security checkpoints and the security fence. Israel was troubled by the recent role assumed by Hamas. Nevertheless, it had not lost hope for dialogue with partners who were genuinely interested in a peaceful political process. She hoped both Palestinian and Israeli women would be able to work together to lend a woman’s voice to a peaceful outcome.
The representative of the United States requested a recorded vote on the draft resolution.
The Commission adopted the text on Palestinian women by a recorded vote of 41 in favour to 2 against ( Canada, United States), with 1 abstention ( Nicaragua).
There was a clear shift in Canada's UN voting pattern on Israel under Paul Martin.
After six successful bids, Canada could face defeat for the first time ever for several reasons, chief among them its shift four years ago to a more pro-Israel policy. It was Liberal PM Paul Martin's move, but Ottawa has stayed with it.
In the past, Canada abstained from voting on the predictable series of anti-Israel, pro-Palestine resolutions placed before the General Assembly every year, while the U.S. routinely opposed them.
At the end of 2004, however, Ottawa broke with tradition and started to vote No with the U.S. and Israel. Then-foreign minister Pierre Pettigrew called it a "principled" approach, where each resolution would be judged on its own merits.
Since then, Canada has voted No twice as often as it has abstained.
Canada a Wallflower at UN dance
Martin might have been a little less blunt in presentation than Harper but I don't think there has been any real policy change.
There seems to be a steady progression to Zion, regardless of who's in government. The NDP would probably continue the drift if they had power
Some people have short memories.
Now [November 2004] an independent MP, [Carolyn] Parrish can speak her mind without having to answer to caucus martinets. One issue that particularly disturbs her is [b]the unseemly and largely unseen influence of pro-Israel pressure groups inside and outside of government pushing Canada’s foreign policy toward alignment with Israel and the U.S. A conspicuous sign of this shift occurred when Canada abstained on a United Nations vote condemning Israel’s Apartheid Wall, even though Canada originally voted against it.[/b][url=http://www.gregfelton.com/canpol/2004_11_25.htm][color=mediumblue][u]Greg Felton[/u][/color][/url]Parrish cites [b]the meddling of Justice Minister Irwin Cotler[/b], former president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, as a major reason for this shift: "He regularly attends any foreign affairs meeting that involves the Middle East, but there’s no need for the justice minister to attend. It’s an unwritten rule that a minister does not interfere in another minister’s portfolio."...
Parrish said Martin further weakened Canada’s foreign policy when he replaced long-time foreign affairs minister Bill Graham with Pierre Pettigrew:
"I think the respect Graham commands is rather unanimous, but I don’t think Pettigrew has the same grasp of foreign affairs or background in the Middle East. Just when the Middle East is opening up and there’s a chance for renewed negotiations, the best expert is moved. I find that strange."
In a recent speech at the University of Waterloo, Parrish criticized Pettigrew for having an unbalanced perspective and suggested he spend time in a Palestinian refugee camp.
Outside of Parliament, Parrish noted the influence of the husband and wife team of Gerry Schwartz (CEO of Onyx Crop.) and Heather Reismann (President of Indigo Books/Chapters). Both are big Liberal Party donors and were prominent in Martin’s box during his coronation as party leader. They also happen to be two of the main organizers of the new Zionist umbrella group United Israel Appeal Federations Canada.
The UIAFC, which has been granted charity status even though it has a clear political agenda, recently established the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy (CIJA), which held its inaugural parliamentary dinner earlier this month.
[b]At the dinner, Martin was on his best behaviour as he swore fealty to the powers that be: "Canada will not, nor will we ever, waiver in our support for Israel. We believe strongly, incontrovertibly, in Israel’s right to defend itself against those who would destroy it… [Ariel] Sharon’s plan for Gaza, in my view, will enhance Israel’s security and lead in the direction of peace."...[/b]
At the CAF [Canadian Arab Federation] reception, Parrish said Martin failed to address the key concern of Muslim groups—the odious Bill C-36 by which Muslims are subjected to arbitrary arrest and deportation. Zionists are the bill’s biggest supporters. No matter how politely the government behaves toward the CAF and other Arab/Muslim groups, [b]Canada’s Middle East policy is shifting,[/b] she said.
I'll try this again...
''Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
P.O. Box 23088Ottawa, Ontario K2A 4E2
www.independentjewishvoices.ca
(613) 321-2765
MEDIA ADVISORY
Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) today called on Jason Kenny to rescind his punitive and unjust threat to cut the funding of the Canadian Arab Federation and his unwarranted allegations that CAF is anti-Semitic. CAF has been a consistent and valued supporter of Canadian Jewish individuals and groups, including our organization and its member groups.
CAF also provides principled leadership to improve Canada’s human rights policies and to broaden services to all immigrant and racialized groups. We respect Khaled Mouammar as a man of principle and courage, who has always put himself and CAF on the line to support Jews and to oppose anti-Semitism.
We believe that Mr. Kenny and his Conservative government is threatening CAF’s funding because CAF stands for justice for Palestinian people and because it expresses principled criticism of oppressive Israeli policies.
As Jews, we affirm that criticizing Israeli policies is NOT anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism refers to hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. Like any other government, Israel has obligations under international law. To responsibly raise critical concerns about the discriminatory, illegal, and brutal policies of another government is an ethical imperative, which our government should support.
However, the Conservative government has gone further than any previous Canadian administration in endorsing illegal and brutal Israeli assaults on Palestinian and Lebanese people. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged complete allegiance with Israel and labels as “anti-Semitic” any criticism of Israeli actions (including the Gaza massacre, house demolitions, use of illegal phosphorous and DIME weapons against civilians, etc.).
As Jews, we believe this is a dishonest smoke-screen, a ploy to discredit principled calls for humanity, justice, and compliance with international law."
first (and only?) to boycott Durban II because of support for Israel;
Wrong, boyO! Barack Obama has withdrawn US participation.
Durban II is nothing more than an anti-Jewish hatefest.
Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
P.O. Box 23088
Ottawa, Ontario K2A 4E2
www.independentjewishvoices.ca
(613) 321-2765
February 19, 2009 MEDIA ADVISORY
Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) today called on Jason Kenny to rescind his punitive and unjust threat to cut the funding of the Canadian Arab Federation and his unwarranted allegations that CAF is anti-Semitic. CAF has been a consistent and valued supporter of Canadian Jewish individuals and groups, including our organization and its member groups.
CAF also provides principled leadership to improve Canada’s human rights policies and to broaden services to all immigrant and racialized groups. We respect Khaled Mouammar as a man of principle and courage, who has always put himself and CAF on the line to support Jews and to oppose anti-Semitism.
We believe that Mr. Kenny and his Conservative government is threatening CAF’s funding because CAF stands for justice for Palestinian people and because it expresses principled criticism of oppressive Israeli policies. As Jews, we affirm that criticizing Israeli policies is NOT anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism refers to hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. Like any other government, Israel has obligations under international law.
To responsibly raise critical concerns about the discriminatory, illegal, and brutal policies of another government is an ethical imperative, which our government should support. However, the Conservative government has gone further than any previous Canadian administration in endorsing illegal and brutal Israeli assaults on Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged complete allegiance with Israel and labels as “anti-Semitic” any criticism of Israeli actions (including the Gaza massacre, house demolitions, use of illegal phosphorous and DIME weapons against civilians, etc.).
As Jews, we believe this is a dishonest smoke-screen, a ploy to discredit principled calls for humanity, justice, and compliance with international law
And Israel is nothing more than a genocidal anti-Arab hatefest. Fair?
I've tried three times to post the same article, in a readable format, and babble ereaes it every time. "Boot to the head" to the new bbabel
Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
www.independentjewishvoices.caMEDIA ADVISORY Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) today called on Jason Kenny to rescind his punitive and unjust threat to cut the funding of the Canadian Arab Federation and his unwarranted allegations that CAF is anti-Semitic. CAF has been a consistent and valued supporter of Canadian Jewish individuals and groups, including our organization and its member groups. CAF also provides principled leadership to improve Canada’s human rights policies and to broaden services to all immigrant and racialized groups. We respect Khaled Mouammar as a man of principle and courage, who has always put himself and CAF on the line to support Jews and to oppose anti-Semitism. We believe that Mr. Kenny and his Conservative government is threatening CAF’s funding because CAF stands for justice for Palestinian people and because it expresses principled criticism of oppressive Israeli policies. As Jews, we affirm that criticizing Israeli policies is NOT anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism refers to hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. Like any other government, Israel has obligations under international law. To responsibly raise critical concerns about the discriminatory, illegal, and brutal policies of another government is an ethical imperative, which our government should support. However, the Conservative government has gone further than any previous Canadian administration in endorsing illegal and brutal Israeli assaults on Palestinian and Lebanese people. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged complete allegiance with Israel and labels as “anti-Semitic” any criticism of Israeli actions (including the Gaza massacre, house demolitions, use of illegal phosphorous and DIME weapons against civilians, etc.). As Jews, we believe this is a dishonest smoke-screen, a ploy to discredit principled calls for humanity, justice, and compliance with international law
Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)www.independentjewishvoices.ca MEDIA ADVISORY Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) today called on Jason Kenny to rescind his punitive and unjust threat to cut the funding of the Canadian Arab Federation and his unwarranted allegations that CAF is anti-Semitic. CAF has been a consistent and valued supporter of Canadian Jewish individuals and groups, including our organization and its member groups. CAF also provides principled leadership to improve Canada’s human rights policies and to broaden services to all immigrant and racialized groups. We respect Khaled Mouammar as a man of principle and courage, who has always put himself and CAF on the line to support Jews and to oppose anti-Semitism. We believe that Mr. Kenny and his Conservative government is threatening CAF’s funding because CAF stands for justice for Palestinian people and because it expresses principled criticism of oppressive Israeli policies. As Jews, we affirm that criticizing Israeli policies is NOT anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism refers to hostility and/or prejudice against Jews. Like any other government, Israel has obligations under international law. To responsibly raise critical concerns about the discriminatory, illegal, and brutal policies of another government is an ethical imperative, which our government should support. However, the Conservative government has gone further than any previous Canadian administration in endorsing illegal and brutal Israeli assaults on Palestinian and Lebanese people. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged complete allegiance with Israel and labels as “anti-Semitic” any criticism of Israeli actions (including the Gaza massacre, house demolitions, use of illegal phosphorous and DIME weapons against civilians, etc.). As Jews, we believe this is a dishonest smoke-screen, a ploy to discredit principled calls for humanity, justice, and compliance with international law
What I am noticing is that even the "Left" is beginning to realize that anti-Zionism is simply the code word for Jewish. When people say they are anti-Zionist as the documentation for Durban II attests, they really mean they hate Jews. Barack Obama recognizes this and had wisely decided to withdraw US participation. There is no other possible explanation.
A State Department official said that the current text is "unsalvageable" and that the United States would reconsider its position only if the negotiators stripped out provisions criticizing Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands and recommendations for restrictions on the defamation of religions, an initiative by Islamic states that Washington fears could undercut free speech. The United States also opposes any language requiring reparations for slavery.
As the first black president the latter part must represent a singular point of pride for Obama
What I am noticing is that even the "Left" is beginning to realize that anti-Zionism is simply the code word for Jewish. When people say they are anti-Zionist as the documentation for Durban II attests, they really mean they hate Jews. Barack Obama recognizes this and had wisely decided to withdraw US participation. There is no other possible explanation.
Zionism is an ideological basis for Jewish racial supremacy in Israel and nothing else.
Zionism is an ideological basis for Jewish racial supremacy in Israel and nothing else.
That is the original meaning of it, maybe. But the word has been appropriated by racists to mean Jewish, or Jews. Just like "Israel-lobby" is another code word for Jews. When people say "The Israel-lobby controls US foreign policy", they are really saying "Jews control the State Department". Such comments must never go unchallenged.
Hey squawker, have a read, eh!
Diana Ralph, Coordinator, Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
We are writing, as Jews from across Canada, to urge you to reject B’nai Brith Canada’s Feb. 24 allegations that “university campuses…have become breeding grounds for promoting hatred against Jewish Students.” First of all, it is important to clarify what is, and what is not anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism refers to prejudice and discrimination against Jews and aspersions against Judaism as a religion. It is NOT anti-Semitic to responsibly raise concerns about oppressive policies of Israel (even though Israel advocates attempt to characterize criticism of Israel as “the new anti-Semitism).
B’nai Brith’s Feb. 24 press release should be understood in the context of the organization’s current uncritical support for Israel, and its previous attempts to characterize any criticism of Israel as hate crimes against Jews. Five years ago, B’nai Brith VP, Frank Dimant introduced a resolution to forge an alliance between B’nai Brith and the Christian evangelical right in Canada and later expelled 8 dissenting members. Since then, B’nai Brith has completely abandoned its human rights function, and focuses instead solely on attacking anyone critical of Israel, making it similar to the U.S. Anti-Defamation League. 1
To counter popular outrage against Israel’s massacre of over 1,300 people in Gaza last month, B’nai Brith launched a campaign to characterize Gaza solidarity events as anti-Semitic. On February 12, B’nai Brith issued a press release claiming that Jewish students were being harassed at a Gaza solidarity rally at York University. 2 However, You-tube evidence shows that the pro-Israel students provocatively marched into the middle of the York University Gaza Solidarity Rally, that insults were thrown on both sides, and that it was not the Jewishness of the Jews which was being attacked, but their uncritical support of Israel 3 . B’nai Brith placed a full page advertisement in the Feb. 14 National Post urging university presidents to ban Israeli Apartheid Week (which will focus this year on protesting Israel’s Gaza assault).
There is no credibility to B’nai Brith’s allegations that Canadian campuses “have become breeding grounds for promoting hatred against Jewish students.”
Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) represents Jews from across Canada who have in common a strong commitment to social justice and universal human rights. We would be glad to meet with you to offer a Jewish alternative to that of B’nai Brith and other Israel Lobby organizations.
Sincerely,
Diana Ralph, Ph.D. And thanks for that link AlQ, have forwarded it to my friend who just found out she too is of Jewish heritage and does not understand the complexities at work.
B’nai Brith has been around forever. Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) is probably secretly funded by the KKK.
That is the original meaning of it, maybe. But the word has been appropriated by racists to mean Jewish, or Jews. Just like "Israel-lobby" is another code word for Jews. When people say "The Israel-lobby controls US foreign policy", they are really saying "Jews control the State Department". Such comments must never go unchallenged.
That's a lie and you're a liar. It is incredible that the only method the Zionists racists have to defend their racism is to accuse critics of their racism of anti-semitism. It is as pathetic as it is fucked. If you're a racist at least be open about and honest to yourself about it.
B’nai Brith has been around forever. Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) is probably secretly funded by the KKK.
Now you slander an organization that is Jewish and anti-racist. So the Zionist have not only adopted the racism of the white supremacists but also their childish and failed tactics. The age of Zionism is indeed over.
Dr. Stephen Scheinberg is Professor Emeritus in History, Concordia University. He was a long-time national officer of [b]B'nai Brith Canada[/b], including two terms as Chair of The League for Human Rights. He resigned his post as National VP and Chair of the Montreal Executive in 2007. [url=http://mostlywater.org/partners_imperium_b%E2%80%99nai_brith_canada_and_... writes:[/u][/color][/url]
Forty or fifty years ago BBC (B'nai Brith Canada) was a major membership organization. It had lodges and institutions that it sponsored from one end of Canada to the other....BBC's great loss has been in membership, with many of those who persist being octa- and nonagenarians....
Presiding over B'nai Brith's declining fortunes since 1978 has been Executive Vice-President [b]Frank Dimant[/b]...
In the 1980s, when I first came to BBC, attracted by its work for human rights, it was a pluralistic organization. Around the League for Human Rights table I found mostly liberals - a few, such as myself, with more activist backgrounds - and a sprinkling of conservatives. Most of the conservatives were part of the other side of BBC political work, the Institute for International Affairs, and since most of that group's work was Israel advocacy, it was where Dimant's own Betar views predominated....
[b]This state of pluralism in B'nai Brith lasted until about five years ago.[/b] (It has now been totally eliminated with the expulsion of eight dissenting members...) At a rump national board meeting, with a bare quorum, [b]Dimant introduced a resolution to forge an alliance with the Christian right in Canada.[/b] Knowing something of their American counterparts, I challenged the motion, but was the only one to do so. I turned to well-known Liberal human rights lawyer David Matas of Winnipeg, but he was not similarly alarmed, perhaps because his own unabashedly pro-Israel position was consistent with such an alliance, or perhaps he did not share my fears. Dimant and others tried to assure me that the alliance was only for Israel advocacy.
I soon learned that was not the case. One day I received a phone call from NDP MP Svend Robinson, inviting me as Chair of the League for Human Rights to come to Ottawa to testify in favour of his bill to include gays and lesbians among those protected from hate speech. I readily agreed, because it had always been BBC policy to support their inclusion, but I was in for a surprise. It was clear that the main group opposed to Robinson's bill was the Christian right, and that BBC, that is Mr. Dimant, would not support the bill without protection being given to the speech of anti-gay clergy. I, though much embarrassed, had to notify Robinson that I was unable to appear at the hearings as a representative of BBC. It would have been a good time to resign, but perhaps mistakenly, I hung in.
Meanwhile, Dimant received a honourary doctorate from the Canada Christian College, but unlike most recipients of such degrees, he often uses the title "Dr." Joint tours of Israel, exchanges of speakers and of course mutual support of the Conservative Party have furthered the linkage. The anti-gay, anti-feminist, pro-censorship stance of Reverend Charles McVety of the Canada Christian College did not seem to bother Dimant, who heads a League for Human Rights.
McVety and his associates are associated with [b]the dispensationalist brand of the evangelical movement, a grouping sometimes termed Christian Zionists.[/b] They are fundamentalists, believing in the authority of an error-free scripture and opposed to abortion access, gay marriage, or use of embryonic stem cells for medical research, while favouring traditional roles for women and protection of the public from what they deem to be pornography. In addition to their fundamentalism, the dispensational premillenarians believe that God has related to his children through a series of covenants or dispensations, including God's original covenant with Israel, which remains in effect....
[continued in next post]
[b]Thus Dimant[/b], the follower of the rather secular Ze'ev Jabotinsky, but himself an Orthodox Jew, [b]embraces the support of those who will join with him in the fight to preserve all the settlements, illegal outposts and, if possible, all the Palestinian lands of the West Bank.[/b] No matter that the agenda of Canada's Christian right is totally at variance with the values held by most Canadian Jews or probably even many of those who remain in the depleting ranks of B'nai Brith.
Canadian dispensationalist clergy are part of [USian Reverend John] Hagee's Christians United for Israel...
Scheinberg notes that Hagee has argued that [b]Hitler and the Holocaust were the instruments of God for restoring the Jewish people to Israel.[/b]
McVety is well known because he often leads the charge on behalf of religious conservatism on Parliament Hill. There he has recently fought for curtailing government grants on the basis of morality tests, although current legislation clearly excludes pornography. He strongly opposed gay marriage, and had also expressed himself against protecting gays from hate speech. McVety takes credit for the push to raise the age of consent in Canada, presenting Harper with a petition with over 700,000 signatures, but blames its delay on "the Liberals fighting so hard to keep sex with 14-year olds legal," a charge without foundation. McVety was also a VIP guest of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty when the Tories scuttled the Liberal plan for a national child care program in favour of its own more conservative policy of giving tax breaks to women with children. McVety was an opponent of the Court Challenges Program, and the government obliged him and other social conservatives by canceling it. Incidentally, B'nai Brith had always favoured this program, which allowed women's groups, visible minorities and others without access to large sums of money to launch Charter challenges.McVety and Dimant's most recent collaboration was also one of the most extreme examples of how far their partnership had gone. The former led a protest in front of the Charles Darwin exhibition of Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum. He charged Darwin with racism, inspiration of Nazi doctrine and even genocide. McVety also took over the nearby Varsity theatre for a showing of an anti-Darwinist film (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed) and B'nai Brith staff and members attended. However, BBC's major gesture of support for the protest was to make it the page one story in their newspaper The Jewish Tribune....
[b]Thus Dimant has overtly allied himself and B'nai Brith with the benighted forces of the creationist - or as they now prefer, "intelligent design" - lobby....[/b]
Both BBC and its Christian allies are probably more satisfied with the Harper government's support for Israel. Much of the right wing in the Jewish community had resented the Liberal Party's attempts to be even handed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They wanted, and have received, Stephen Harper's full commitment to Israel. B'nai Brith shows its appreciation on the front page of The Jewish Tribune, which frequently runs photos of Harper or Stockwell Day on its front page but not those of the Liberal or NDP opposition leaders....
Jews in Canada or the U.S. have little in common with those who brand the Roman Catholic Church "the great whore" or a "false cult system" or argue that Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual "sin." Their antiquated and repressive social agenda is not that of most Canadian Jews, even if it suits the right-wing agenda of Frank Dimant and the Harpercons.
Some small numbers of Canadian Jews still support B'nai Brith because they believe that it is an effective lobby for Israel. It makes much noise lobbying, not for Israel but for the settlements and against accommodation.
That is the original meaning of it, maybe. But the word has been appropriated by racists to mean Jewish, or Jews. Just like "Israel-lobby" is another code word for Jews. When people say "The Israel-lobby controls US foreign policy", they are really saying "Jews control the State Department". Such comments must never go unchallenged.That's a lie
It's actually true. Israel-lobby and Anti-Zionist today mean anti-Jewish, anti-Jew. The fact that you deny it raises suspicions about your beliefs with respect to Jews.
Oh well then. I guess my Jewish boyfriend will find out that my opposition to Israel is really a deep-seated hatred for him.
I guess I am not getting any this evening.
Oh well then. I guess my Jewish boyfriend will find out that my opposition to Israel is really a deep-seated hatred for him.
I take it you meant to say your opposition to Israel's actions, not that you oppose Israel's right to exist.Anyway the point was not to debate Israel's actions but to point out that that new way of saying "Jews control the world" is to say "The Israel-lobby controls the state department". Being "anti-Zionist" is the new code for "I hate Jews". David Ahenakew was caught using the old terminology, and went to trial over it.
Being "anti-Zionist" is the new code for "I hate Jews".
I'm anti-Zionist and I don't hate Jews. You're the one who hates Jews, because you identify us with some of the worst crimes against humanity of modern times. One day, antisemites like you will pay - dearly - for endangering the Jewish people and holding us up to scorn in the eyes of others. Because there is no shortage, unfortunately, of people out there who believe shitbags like you and your masters when you connect the Jewish people with the atrocities committed daily by Eretz Yisrael.
You will pay, and dearly. My family didn't survive the Nazi genocide to be outsmarted by dunces like you. Your clock is ticking.
Sounds like you also have some unfortunate anger issues. I will pray for you as well.
Bless you.
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, ...
Sounds like you also have some unfortunate anger issues. I will pray for you as well.
Bless you.
Unionist might be angry as I am because you're a bigot.
[quote=Unionist]Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, ...[/quote]
...tick, tick, BOOM!
Our latest troll is gone.
anti-Israel = anti-Apartheid = pro human rights.
what's wrong with that ?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
http://LASIK-Flap.com ~ Health Warning about LASIK Eye Surgery
The equation doesn't balance. 
ARAB CANADIANS CALL UPON PRIME MINISTER HARPER TO RESTRAIN MINISTER JASON KENNEYDelegates of Arab organizations from across Canada meeting in Toronto on Sunday March 8 2009 stand in solidarity with, and express their support for, the Canadian Arab Federation and its leadership. The delegates categorically reject the baseless accusations against the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) made by the Canadian Jewish Congress, B’nai Birth, the National Post and Jason Kenney; Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.Arab Canadians are Semites and hail from various faiths, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism and other faiths. We oppose all forms of racism, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism and enjoy strong allies in both the Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities. We are apprehensive about the threats made by Minister Kenney to withhold funds from CAF’s settlement services.
We are deeply concerned that the inflammatory remarks made by Mr. Jason Kenney, both in Canada and overseas, are creating a wedge in Canadian society and have inflamed a campaign to marginalize and demonize the already targeted Arab and Muslim Canadian communities. These stereotypes against the Arab and Muslim communities is being propagated on several websites and through countless media outlets on a daily basis.
These escalating campaigns cannot be simply in response to an unfortunate use of language by CAF’s President who quoted Jewish American author Dr. Norman Finkelstein and described the Minister as a “professional whore who supports war.” The campaign of intimidation launched by the Israeli lobby and their supporters is seeking to delegitimize Arab Canadian institutions, services, access to public funds and to silence all critics of Israel - following its war on Gaza that resulted in the death of 418 children and 108 women - by equating such criticism with anti-Semitism being anti-Semitic.
Besides CAF, the campaign has targeted prominent Jewish Canadians such as Naomi Klein and Judy Rebick, and CUPE Ontario, CUPW, the Canadian Federation of Students of Ontario and student organizations on campuses across Canada. We are dismayed by: · attacks against unions who have a history of democratic practice; · threats to withhold private donor funds from those academic institutions that uphold the principles of open political debate and freedom of expression for all their students· the rise in racist attacks against Arab and Muslim students and other racialized groups on campuses.
We call upon Prime Minister Harper to restrain his Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and to put an end to his dangerous campaign of attacking CAF with slanderous and damaging accusations for which he has provided no evidence. It is time that we put this incident behind us and unite in serving those in need, which CAF has done and continues to do, and safeguarding the rights of all communities to live in a safe and non-discriminatory environment.
· Ahlul Bayt Centre – Ottawa·
Al-Huda Lebanese Muslim Society·
Al-Nahda Social and Cultural Club·
Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians – Ottawa·
Canada Palestine Association – Vancouver·
Canadian Algerian Foundation of Quebec·
Canadian Arab Society of London·
Canadian Druze Society – Toronto·
Canadian Lebanese for Dialogue·
Canadian Muslim Forum – Montreal·
Canadian Palestinian Foundation of Quebec·
Centre R D International Blossom·
Coalition of Canadian Arab Professional and Community Associations - Ottawa·
El-Hidaya Association – Montreal·
Hamilton Palestinian Association ·
Iraqi Canadian Society of Ontario·
Moroccan Association of Ontario·
Moroccan Association of Toronto·
Niagara Palestinian Association·
Palestine House ·
Palestinian Association of Brantford·
Palestinian Solidarity – Montreal·
Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance
For more information, please contact:Mohamed Boudjenane
416-889-6764
Has the NDP issued a response to Kenney's comments?
The more people throw around "anti-Semite" to try and shut someone else up the less effective that actually gets.
I really wish the pro-Israeli organizations would just give up and admit that Israel has bullied Arabs in Palestine and Lebanese in Lebanon for the last twenty-odd years.
[b]Thus Dimant[/b], the follower of the rather secular Ze'ev Jabotinsky, but himself an Orthodox Jew, [b]embraces the support of those who will join with him in the fight to preserve all the settlements, illegal outposts and, if possible, all the Palestinian lands of the West Bank.[/b] No matter that the agenda of Canada's Christian right is totally at variance with the values held by most Canadian Jews or probably even many of those who remain in the depleting ranks of B'nai Brith.
Canadian dispensationalist clergy are part of [USian Reverend John] Hagee's Christians United for Israel...
Scheinberg notes that Hagee has argued that [b]Hitler and the Holocaust were the instruments of God for restoring the Jewish people to Israel.[/b]
McVety is well known because he often leads the charge on behalf of religious conservatism on Parliament Hill. There he has recently fought for curtailing government grants on the basis of morality tests, although current legislation clearly excludes pornography. He strongly opposed gay marriage, and had also expressed himself against protecting gays from hate speech. McVety takes credit for the push to raise the age of consent in Canada, presenting Harper with a petition with over 700,000 signatures, but blames its delay on "the Liberals fighting so hard to keep sex with 14-year olds legal," a charge without foundation. McVety was also a VIP guest of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty when the Tories scuttled the Liberal plan for a national child care program in favour of its own more conservative policy of giving tax breaks to women with children. McVety was an opponent of the Court Challenges Program, and the government obliged him and other social conservatives by canceling it. Incidentally, B'nai Brith had always favoured this program, which allowed women's groups, visible minorities and others without access to large sums of money to launch Charter challenges.McVety and Dimant's most recent collaboration was also one of the most extreme examples of how far their partnership had gone. The former led a protest in front of the Charles Darwin exhibition of Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum. He charged Darwin with racism, inspiration of Nazi doctrine and even genocide. McVety also took over the nearby Varsity theatre for a showing of an anti-Darwinist film (Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed) and B'nai Brith staff and members attended. However, BBC's major gesture of support for the protest was to make it the page one story in their newspaper The Jewish Tribune....
[b]Thus Dimant has overtly allied himself and B'nai Brith with the benighted forces of the creationist - or as they now prefer, "intelligent design" - lobby....[/b]
Both BBC and its Christian allies are probably more satisfied with the Harper government's support for Israel. Much of the right wing in the Jewish community had resented the Liberal Party's attempts to be even handed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They wanted, and have received, Stephen Harper's full commitment to Israel. B'nai Brith shows its appreciation on the front page of The Jewish Tribune, which frequently runs photos of Harper or Stockwell Day on its front page but not those of the Liberal or NDP opposition leaders....
Jews in Canada or the U.S. have little in common with those who brand the Roman Catholic Church "the great whore" or a "false cult system" or argue that Hurricane Katrina was God's retribution for homosexual "sin." Their antiquated and repressive social agenda is not that of most Canadian Jews, even if it suits the right-wing agenda of Frank Dimant and the Harpercons.
Some small numbers of Canadian Jews still support B'nai Brith because they believe that it is an effective lobby for Israel. It makes much noise lobbying, not for Israel but for the settlements and against accommodation.
Speaking of Hitler, Scheinberg told one of the Concordia University papers several years ago that the Israeli settlers in Hebron were "as close to Hitler (or the Nazis) as I've ever seen." I did a story on this for my newspaper, first by calling Dimant (who nearly fell off his chair when i told him what Scheinberg was quoted as saying) and then by calling Scheinberg, who apologized for the statement.
BTW, Scheinberg, if it hasn't been noted already, is with Canadian friends for Peace Now. I believe at one point that he was still with B'nai Brith while also with CFPN.
Speaking of Hitler, Scheinberg told one of the Concordia University papers several years ago that the Israeli settlers in Hebron were "as close to Hitler (or the Nazis) as I've ever seen." I did a story on this for my newspaper, first by calling Dimant (who nearly fell off his chair when i told him what Scheinberg was quoted as saying) and then by calling Scheinberg, who apologized for the statement.
Scheinberg was right to apologize for the comparison. Hitler is dead.
BTW, Scheinberg, if it hasn't been noted already, is with Canadian friends for Peace Now. I believe at one point that he was still with B'nai Brith while also with CFPN.
I can't tell (though I can guess) whether you mean this as praise or blame.
Speaking of Hitler, Scheinberg told one of the Concordia University papers several years ago that the Israeli settlers in Hebron were "as close to Hitler (or the Nazis) as I've ever seen." I did a story on this for my newspaper, first by calling Dimant (who nearly fell off his chair when i told him what Scheinberg was quoted as saying) and then by calling Scheinberg, who apologized for the statement.
Scheinberg was right to apologize for the comparison. Hitler is dead.
BTW, Scheinberg, if it hasn't been noted already, is with Canadian friends for Peace Now. I believe at one point that he was still with B'nai Brith while also with CFPN.I can't tell (though I can guess) whether you mean this as praise or blame.
Just a point of interest, considering the perception at least that the two groups may not see eye to eye.
As Scheinberg points out, Bnai Brith actually used to be a progressive party. Nowadays they're a Tory mouthpiece, though Joe Volpe is also close to the group.
[url=http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/21016][color=mediumblue]... Open Letter from Jewish Peace Activists[/u][/color][/url] March 30, 2009:
We are peace activists of Jewish background. Some of us typically identify in this way; others of us do not. But we all object to those who claim to speak for all Jews or who use charges of anti-Semitism to attempt to squelch legitimate dissent.
We have learned with dismay the allegations regarding Hermann Dierkes, a trade unionist and leader of the Left Party (DIE LINKE) in the German city of Duisburg. Dierkes, in response to the recent Israeli assault on Gaza expressed the view that one way people could help Palestinians obtain justice would be to support the call of the World Social Forum to boycott Israeli goods, so as to put pressure on the Israeli government.
Dierkes has been subjected to widespread and vitriolic denunciations for anti-Semitism, and accused of calling for a repeat of the Nazi policy of the 1930s of boycotting Jewish products. Dierkes responded that "The demands of the World Social Forum have nothing in common with Nazi-type racist campaigns against Jews, but aim at changing the Israeli government's policy of oppression of the Palestinians."
No one has made any claims of anti-Semitism against Dierkes for anything other than his support of the boycott. Yet he has been accused of "pure anti-Semitism" (Dieter Graumann the Vice-President of the Central Jewish Council), of uttering words comparable to "a mass execution at the edge of a Ukrainian forest" (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung editorialist Achim Beer), and of expressing "Nazi propaganda" (Hendrik Wuest, General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Party).
We signatories have differing views on the wisdom and efficacy of calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. Some of us believe that such a boycott is an essential component of a campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions that can end the four-decade-long Israeli occupation; others think the better way to pressure the Israeli government is with a more selective boycott focused on institutions and corporations supporting the occupation. But all of us agree that it is essential to apply pressure against the Israeli government if peace and justice are to prevail in the Middle East and all of us agree that a call for a boycott of Israel has nothing in common with the Nazi policy of "Don't buy from Jews." It is no more anti-Semitic to boycott Israel to end the occupation than it was anti-white to boycott South Africa to end apartheid. Social justice movements have often called for boycotts or divestment, whether against the military regime in Burma or the government of Sudan. Wise or not, such calls are in no way discriminatory.
Violence in the Middle East has indeed led to some acts of anti-Semitism in Europe. There was a call to boycott Jewish-owned stores in Rome that was widely and appropriately condemned. We deplore such bigotry. Israel's crimes cannot be attributed to Jews as a whole. But, at the same time, a boycott of Israel cannot be equated with a boycott of Jews as a whole.
An acute and disturbing form of racism rising in Europe today is Islamophobia and xenophobia directed at immigrants from Muslim countries. Dierkes has been a champion in defense of the rights of immigrants, while some of those who accuse all critics of Israel of being anti-Semitic often participate themselves -- like the Israeli government and state -- in such forms of racism.
The Holocaust was one of the most horrific events in modern history. It is a dishonor to its victims to use its memory as a bludgeon to silence principled critics of Israel's unconscionable treatment of Palestinians.
The statement is signed by many people, including the following Canadians: [see next post]
Elizabeth BLOCK, Not In Our Name: Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism, Women in Solidarity with Palestine, Independent Jewish Voices
Corey BALSAM, Student
Julia BARNETT
Lawrence BOXALL, Jews for a Just Peace
Mark Robert BRILL
Anne-Marie BRUN
Smadar CARMON, Not In Our Name: Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
James DEUTSCH, MD
Judith DEUTSCH, MSW, President, Science for Peace
Gordon DOCTOROW
Inge FLEISCHMANN FOWLIE, Independent Jewish Voices
Barry FLEMING
Matt FODOR
Inge FOWLIE
Daniel FREEMAN-MALOY, Activist and writer
Sam GINDIN, York University
Rachel GUROFSKY, Trent University
Larry HAIVEN, Saint Mary's University
Jean HANSON, Independent Jewish Voices
Jake JAVANSHIR, Not In Our Name: Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
Mira KHAZZAM, Independent Jewish Voices
Mark KLEIN
Naomi KLEIN, Author
Jason KUNIN
Richard Borshay LEE, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto
Abby LIPPMAN, Independent Jewish Voices
Henry LOWI
Elizabeth MOLCHANY, Esquire
Rabbi David MIVASAIR, Ahavat Olam Synagogue, Vancouver
Joanne NAIMAN
Yakov M. RABKIN, Professeur titulaire, Département d'histoire, Université de Montréal
Diana RALPH, Independent Jewish Voices
R.S. RATNER, University of British Columbia
Herman ROSENFELD, Instructor, Labour Studies, McMaster University
Martha ROTH, United Jewish Voices-BC
Marty ROTH, United Jewish Voices-BC
Regine SCHMID
Alan SEARS, Ryerson University
Edward SHAFFER, University of Alberta
Sid SHNIAD, Independent Jewish Voices
Greg STARR, Jews for a Just Peace
Vera SZOKE
Judith WEISMAN
Suzanne WEISS, Not In Our Name: Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
