Young Jews are among the most determined critics of Israel in Canada. That doesn’t mean they are protected from accusations of “antisemitism”. A new report written by several Jewish authors claims that the well-funded Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) consciously uses the fear of “antisemitism” as a weapon. Read more.

Research by academics who are part of The Jewish Faculty Network shines a light on how a number of pro-Israel institutions including B’nai Brith Canada and the Friends of Simon Weisenthal – Centre for Holocaust Studies, play an important role in using fear of antisemitism to build acceptance in Canada for Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The most important institution in the defence of Israel, according to a new report by a group of Jewish Canadian academics, is the well-funded Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). Through public statements, social media posts and media releases, CIJA actively defends the State of Israel and its genocidal campaign in Gaza, the authors claim in the introduction to their 48 page report.

CIJA is the largest, and best funded Jewish organization in Canada. It claims to be – and is often relied upon as – the leading voice of Jewish people in Canada. CIJA is one of the most active lobbying groups on Parliament Hill.

But the report shows that CIJA attempts to repress or marginalize the voices of the many Canadian Jews who do not feel CIJA represents their views. It wages a constant campaign against Canadians who voice support for the human rights of Palestinians in the face of Israeli aggression. Amongst other things, it advocates vigorously at the federal and provincial levels for the implementation of the IHRA definition of antisemitism which conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism for revising the definition of “hate crime” to include criticism of Israel.

Main findings

The information in the report is not totally new. Much of the data has been revealed before. What is new is the extensive compilation of evidence AND, most importantly, the fact that all 5 of the authors are Jewish. (One of them, Avi Lewis is particularly well known as the son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, and currently a candidate for leadership of the federal NDP.)

The report provides evidence for four main findings:

1. CIJA promotes anti-Palestinian racism through the idea that unrestricted violence against Palestinians is necessary for Jewish safety.
2. CIJA promotes anti-Palestinian racism through a false narrative linking the movement for Palestinian rights and the rise of antisemitism in Canada.
3. CIJA engages in antisemitism by defining Jewish identity as Zionist and anti-Palestinian through its persistent exclusion of large segments of Jewish people and voices from a singularly presented “Jewish community.”
4. CIJA’s advocacy for the erosion of free speech, academic freedom, and increased securitization and criminalization is used to silence criticism of Israel and the genocide of Palestinians

Recommendations

The authors of the study advise educational institutions, the media, the government, non-profit organizations, and the public against relying on CIJA to define antisemitism or on issues related to Israel and Palestine, or relying on CIJA to address issues relating to Jewish people in Canada.

The Jewish Faculty Network is a national network of Jewish Canadian academics. It has about 200 members with chapters in 5 Canadian cities.

The weekly newsletter of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP) aims to promote a serious discussion about Canada’s response to the Israel/Palestine issue. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment. To get on our regular mailing list or for more information write: ofip.chair@gmail.com