CIJA, B’nai Brith and some other pro-Israel organizations have called CUPE Ontario president Fred Hahn antisemitic because he re-posted a satirical cartoon critical of Israel. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is even pressuring CUPE’s National Executive Board to dump him. But Hahn is fighting back and gaining support among CUPE members. Watch the video and see what you think. Read more.
The short video was edgy, no doubt. It showed an Israeli diver with a Star of David on his arm stepping up to an Olympic diving platform, jumping high into the air and making a perfect dive into….. a neighbourhood in Gaza which explodes into smithereens!!!
The 39 second video entitled ‘Israeli diver at the Olympics”, was sharp satiric commentary. It contrasted the historic “peace” historic mission of the Olympic Games to the presence of athletes representing Israel (some of whom are actually members of Israel’s military) during a time when its military is carrying out what the International Court of Justice has called a “plausible” genocide.
It was harsh. It no doubt made those who ignore, or even support, Israel’s murderous campaign in Gaza very uncomfortable.
Was the video anti-semitic?
Was the video itself anti-semitic, or just anti-Israel? Was Hahn’s reposting it an anti-semitic act, or was it a sharp criticism of the West’s hypocrisy vis-a-vis Israel?
Several Jewish organizations including B’nai Brith, and the Simon Wiesenthal Foundation jumped in to accuse Hahn of antisemitism. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs even wrote to CUPE’s national president arguing that it “is time to fire Fred Hahn”.
Right wing media stars like Toronto Star columnist Rosie DiManno and Globe Columnist Marcus Gee, piled on explaining why Hahn “has to go”.
Premier Doug Ford went so far as to call Hahn a “disgusting human being”.
But the video makes no mention of Jews, or Judaism. Does Israel’s claim to be a “Jewish State” give it complete and universal protection against criticism? If a video which clearly criticizes Israel can be labelled “antisemitic’, then by the same logic, ANY criticism of Israel could also be called antisemitic.
Or to turn it around, what would CIJA, Ford, B’nai Brith or Rosi DiManno suggest is a “permissible” way to criticise Israel’s “plausible genocide”? Have any of them done so??
So, was the video really antisemitic or just biting criticism of Israel? Decide for yourself.
Watch the short video HERE.
Pushback from many sources
Hahn vigorously denies that he is antisemitic in any way. In an open letter to CUPE members he wrote: “I utterly reject the charge of antisemitism; anyone who knows and works with me knows it to be a lie.” adding that he does not conflate abhorrent actions by the State of Israel with Jewish humanity or identity.
Many people agree with Hahn.
“The social media post by Fred Hahn was not antisemitic; it unambiguously chose Israel as the target of its criticism, not the Jewish people. (…) Pro-Israel organizations in Canada are trying to (…)silence critics of the Israeli genocide in Gaza,” continued the IJV (C) statement..
An organization called Labour 4 Palestine, has already gathered over 175,000 letters supporting Hahn. “Fred Hahn and CUPE Ontario have been steadfast supporters of Palestinian liberation for many years. (…) for their solidarity, both the union and their president have been constantly attacked by Zionist detractors, corporate media and right-wing politicians.”
A movement has developed among CUPE members to back Hahn, urging the CUPE National Leadership not to cave before the vicious Ford/Lobby attack.
Who should decide?
CUPE Ontario is a democratic labour organization with over 250,000 members. It has a long history of solidarity with Palestine. Hahn’s views on the Israeli genocide in Gaza were well known when he was reelected President of CUPE Ontario last May.
It is not up to Premier Ford, CIJA or Rosie DiManno to decide whether Hahn should resign. It is up to CUPE Ontario members. We will see what they decide.
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 
Great letter peter… I don’t think though that there is 175,000 separate signatures, there is 175,000 separate letters but there are 23 members of the National executive board … Not sure if everybody wrote to all 23 members but still there is probably closer to 10,000 separate signatures… Still a very good accomplishment
Hi Paul, thanks. If you have better, more accurate figures, pls let me know. I took that from the Labour4Palestine site. If it is not correct, I would happily edit.
I think that labour for Palestine talks about 175,000 letters rather than signatures
thanks. I made the change.
Hi I can’t figure out how to comment but through this email. I would like to comment on your piece CUPE and Fred Hahn. I tried logging in to my email it didn’t work, I tried logging into my WordPress account it didn’t work so here is my comment regarding your piece about CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn: “I have already indicated that I support Hahn to CUPE. I find it impossible to wrap my head around why our leaders, some media, the ICC and ICJ, the UN Security Council etc have been allowing this genocide (yes it is a genocide as iterated by Francesca Albanese) to occur before their very eyes for 11 months. What is it about Israel that otherwise compassionate people like Trudeau, Joly, Biden, (I don’t know the others well enough to know if they are compassionate or not) see the atrocities happening daily and then accuse people who speak out against the slaughter as being anti-semitic or worse? We are not anti-semitic we are anti-genocide. Most of us were traumatized by the daily brutality perpetrated by Russia against the Ukrainians and are once again traumatized by this genocide being perpetrated upon the Palestinians. I leave with one final thought: is everyone who stands with Israel anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim, and / or Islamophic / racist?” Thank you. Michel Jan.
Hi Michel,
No, I don’t agree that everyone who stands with Israel is anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim, Islamophobic or racist. Many Canadians feel sympathy for the Palestinians, but also feel sympathy for Jews and feel that Israel has the right to defend itself. I think this is based on a poor understanding of the issues at play, but does not make them consciously racist… etc.
Hello Peter: I agree, I wrote that part to compare calling anyone criticizing Israel as anti-semitic to anyone supporting Israel as anti-Palestinian to highlight that that isn’t necessarily so in either case. I, only, realized later that that part of my comment would be interpreted as you did. I should have worded it better.
Complaints from the usual — CIJA, Bnai Brith, Wiesenthal — who call anyone antisemitic who criticizes Israel. No surprise that Doug Ford, whom I regard as a disgusting human being, goes along with them.
A year ago Fred wouldn’t have said what he did, and if he had, CUPE would not have stood by him.