Boycott Divestment Sanctions

OK Mr. Harper – I give up! I will stop singling out Israel for special criticism

harper knesset close

“Of course, criticism of Israeli government policy is not in and of itself necessarily anti-Semitic. But what else can we call criticism that selectively condemns only the Jewish state (…). This is the face of the new anti-Semitism. It targets the Jewish people by targeting Israel.”

– Stephen Harper, Israeli Knesset, January 20th 2014

steven blaney at un

“Canada has taken a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination (…) towards Israel, and attempts to delegitimize Israel such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.”

– Stephen Blaney, UN General Assembly, January 22, 2015

Mr. Harper and many of his ministers have repeatedly threatened those who “single out” Israel for criticism. It feels like a campaign of intimidation. OK I give up! I will stop doing it. Read why (and how…)  (more…)

Does Harper want to criminalize criticism of Israel? Canadian civil society issues a warning

steven blaney at un

Canada’s Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney recently told a United Nations Assembly that Canada would show “zero tolerance’ towards the movement to boycott Israel. What does that mean? Mr. Blaney and Mr. Harper seem to think that criticizing Israel should be made illegal in Canada. Not everyone agrees. See more. (more…)

Canadian Jews disagree over Harper, Israel, Palestine, even BDS …

simon fogel on Tv

Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is frequently seen on TV as the spokesperson for the Canadian Jewish community. He is ranked as one of the country’s 100 most effective lobbyists by the Hill Times. But some Canadian Jews are uncomfortable with CIJA’s strong pro-Harper, pro Netanyahu politics. One Jewish group has even circulated a public petition inviting Fogel to participate in a discussion on the campaign to boycott Israel (BDS). No response so far…

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“Change will have to be imposed on Israel from the outside”: Gideon Levy

GIDEON LEVY IN OTTAWA

Well known Israeli journalist Gideon Levy was in Ottawa on March 23rd, part of a Canada-wide tour organized by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). “Life is too good in Israel,” he said. “Israelis have no reason to change their ways. Change will have to be imposed by the democratic world.” Learn more about the event and watch my 4 minute exclusive interview with Levy.

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Christian Zionism to be challenged by religious leaders in Vancouver conference

pentecostalfaithtabernacle

Pentecostals are one of several evangelical groups in Canada which strongly support Israel based on their belief in Christian Zionism. According to Robert Assaly, an Anglican priest, Christian Zionism also has a hold in many of the “mainline” churches. He is organizing a conference to discuss it. Learn more here.

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