In November 1947 Canada voted at the UN in support of giving over 50% of historic Palestine to European Jews to allow them to create a new state after the horrible events of the Holocaust. But we paid scarce attention to the appalling consequences for the people who were already living there. A number of Palestinian Canadians remind their fellow Canadians that the Palestinian ‘Nakba”, which started 72 years ago, is not over. Read the statement of the Nakba Commemoration Initiative…
Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to “annex” significant parts of the West Bank after July 1st. Liberal Zionists like Simon Rosenblum, (pictured) a founding member of Canadian Friends of Peace Now, is expressing alarm. If Netanyahu goes ahead, he argues “The Zionist dream will be in tatters”. Read more…
Holocaust Memorial ceremony in Ottawa on April 21st. Canadian Jews remain traumatized by the memory of the 6 million Jews who were deliberately murdered by Nazis. A recent survey of Canadian Jews by the Environics Institute shows the memory of the horrors of the Holocaust looms large in their attachment to the State of Israel. But it also showed some surprising differences between Canadian Jews and their American counterparts. Read more… (more…)
At a time when every Canadian is nervously waiting for Corona to cause hurt to us or our loved ones and even to our country, its hard to keep in mind that it could be (and no doubt will be) worse for others. How do we balance our need for self protection with our desire to show solidarity to others? A Montreal disaster nurse who is a longtime human rights activist talks about international solidarity in the time of COVID. See the video interview here… (more…)
Up to the beginning of March, a debate had begun in various legislatures in Canada over anti-Semitism and how to fight it. The city councils of Montreal (above), Calgary and Vancouver discussed and declined to adopt a controversial motion which defines anti-Semitism in a way that is aimed to shield Israel from criticism. But those behind the motion have had some successes elsewhere. When the Corona virus crisis abates there is little doubt they will be back to continue their campaign. Why is the motion they are proposing so problematic, and what can be done about it? Read more…
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 