Canadian Politics

Several Canadian pro-Israel groups express alarm over right wing Israeli extremism

The return of Benjamin Netanyahu and the election of overt racists and homophobes like Ben Gvir (l) and Bezalel Smotrich (r) in Israel has caused concerns among Canada’s traditionally liberal Jewish community. They fear that it represents a real threat to the rights of women, LGBT, and other minorities. But others, including some Jews, point out that for Palestinians, this is just one more step along a road that started in 1948. Read more…

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At the UN General Assembly, Canada again demonstrates its “shared values” with Israel – by refusing to join the rest of the world in criticizing Israel’s illegal settlements

Ma’ale Adumim, an Israeli settlement with a population of 40,000 located in the West Bank. Israeli settlement construction continues at a fervid pace. A recent vote at the UN General Assembly shows that Canada is one of the few countries in the world that refuses to criticize Israeli crimes. Read more

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After the Israeli election, HonestReporting Canada in full damage control: “Israel is imperfect, like Canada”, it pleads

Mike Fegelman, Executive director HonestReporting Canada, an Israel advocacy organization, is in full damage control. After three successive reports by authoritative organizations alleging that Israel practices apartheid, and the election of the most far right Israeli government in recent history, Israel’s reputation is taking a hit in Canada. “Israel, like Canada, is an imperfect country”, Fegelman pleads in a recent op ed in the Hill Times. Of course, Canada IS imperfect, but it does not have overt racists in its government and has not been accused of apartheid by reputable organizations. Read more…

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Israel lobby warning to Canadian politicians – “If you criticize Israel, we will call you antisemitic”

Ontario MPP Joel Harden came under intense criticism for an interview he did last year with OFIP chair, Peter Larson on National Truth and Reconciliation Day. He compared colonialism in Canada to that of Israel. Now, a year later the Israel lobby is “shocked, shocked” to discover the interview and has accused him of “antisemitism”. It put enough pressure on the Ontario NDP that Harden chose to apologise for some of his remarks. It’s a stark warning to other politicians. Read more…

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