Why do Canadian Jews fear Palestinians? Why do Canadian Palestinians fear Jews? Why cant they get along? Palestinian Raja Khouri (left) and Jewish Jeffrey Wilkinson (right) have explored these questions in a new book called “The Wall Between”. They will present the book and participate in a live discussion in Ottawa on October 18th. CTIP asked them to explain what they are hoping for in this live public discussion. See the video interview…
Distrust and hostility between Jewish and Palestinian communities in Canada is common. It manifests itself at university campuses,
schools and school boards, at political events, on social media, and in academic circles.
For Jews, Israel must exist; for Palestinians, the historic injustice being committed since 1948 must be reversed. Neither wants to know why the other cannot budge on these issues.
The wall is up.
Raja Khouri and Dr. Jeff Wikinson have wrestled with this issue for many years, from different perspectives. Their new book is a product of their years of experience, and their debates with each other.
RAJA G. KHOURI is a Palestinian Canadian. He was the founding president of the Canadian Arab Institute, and a former 10-year commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He is also a co-founder of the Canadian Arab/Jewish Leadership Dialogue Group.
JEFFREY J. WILKINSON, PhD, is an American Jew who lives in Canada. He holds a doctorate in Education from the University of Toronto and works actively in the Jewish community and beyond on issues relating to trauma and the Israel/Palestine struggle.
This book is a call to justice that challenges Zionism while at the same time dealing directly with the complex histories that have created the situation today. The book is both realistic and hopeful—a guide for anyone who is open to new possibilities within the IsraelPalestine discourse in the West.
Khouri and Wilkinson will be speaking in Ottawa at 7 p.m. on October 18th at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Avenue.
CTIP caught up with both of them prior to their visit to Ottawa. We asked them what they planned to do at the Ottawa session and what they hoped to get out of it.
For more information check the event flyer here.
Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 
Hi Peter:
I heard the interview with the 2 authors and read the intro …..I had some real problems with it
Firstly the sentence :Why do Canadian Jews fear Palestinians? Why do Canadian Palestinians fear Jews? Why cant they get along? is inaccurate and inappropriate in my view ……..it stereotypes both communities , I have never met a Palestinian who feared Jews in the general sense , they hated Israeli Jews who oppressed their community and their Canadian supporters ….but they had good reason to hate those Jews … did some of these Palestinians have a stereotypical view of Canadian Jews as 100% Israel supporters …yes …but this is what the organized Jewish community messages. many Canadian Jews don’t fear Palestinians either, many Jews , especially younger ones are beginning to understand the palestinian narrative ,even if they don’t agree with everything
This is not a struggle between communities , on campuses , school boards etc, many of the most arrdant supporters of Palestinian rights are Jewish.
It appeared from the discussion that both communities were equally traumatized and just had to listen to the other narrative. and that it was “a psychological problem” etc etc …Khouri 2 examples , the Palestinian children traumatized by being sent home for wearing a kafia and the Jewish child traumatized by seeing a Palestinian flag illustrated the craziness
I know you know all this ….perhaps their book is better .
On another matter …CIJA is holding a major “anti semitism “conference next week ………willOFIP commenting on it ? I am prepared to work on a draft.
All the best
Paul.
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Hi Peter
Thanks for posting this very interesting conversation. The comments of the speakers regarding fear certainly reflect what we observed with you when we visited Israel & Palestine.
Peter, that was a great interview and specifically since these two gentlemen are well past the divide and are working to slim that divide for all.
As an aging white man myself, however, I must say the three of you clearly appear as the classic case of three white, and old men. Take whatever humour you can from my comment, but I thank you for this very uplifting discussion .
Hey Allan,
thanks for your sobering but not too helpful remarks.
I cant change my age, ethnicity nor gender.
However, if you have some suggestions for younger, less white interviewees, and if you think you can get them for me, please do so.
Best.
Peter, please take my comments with the dash of humour intended. I ought to have explained, and will now state it was all in good humour jest as frankly had you invited me to your discussion there would have been four old white guys staring out at the audience.
By the way, I’m a poorly educated 75 year old who likes my hair cut quite short. If you ever saw my driver’s licence phote you’d understand.
Peter, I quite like what you have been providing your audience with and, despite what has blown up in Palestine/Israel these past few days, you have given me hope things will change for the better for millions on both sides of that currently horrible divide.