The Israel lobby has been very active in this election, attacking candidates who are critical of Israel by claiming they are “anti-Semitic” and demanding that parties drop them. In some cases, it worked and parties flinched. But not always. Its campaign against NDP candidate Miranda Gallo (above) failed. Has the Israel lobby gone to the well too many times? Read more. (more…)
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Who really controls US (and Canadian) policy towards Israel/Palestine? – Stephen Gowans argues that it may not be who you think it is
In a new book, Ottawa-based independent political analyst Stephen Gowans examines why the USA has given such extensive military, diplomatic and economic support to Israel for the last half century. That support has led some to conclude that Israel (or “Zionists”, or even “Jews”) control US politics. Gowans calls this the “Judeo-Israeli hijack theory” and believes it is mistaken. Read more and watch the short video interview with Gowans here. (more…)
Frightened Liberals confuse anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism – again!!
A frightened Liberal party hastily revoked the candidacy of Hassan Guillet, a well known moderate Muslim cleric, after a pro-Israel lobby group claimed he had made anti-Semitic statements. Anti-Semitism is not acceptable and no political party should accept anti-Semitic candidates. But based on the evidence provided, the claims against the Imam are ill-founded. Read more…
Ten questions to Irwin Cotler about the IHRA definition of “anti-Semitism”: an open letter
Irwin Cotler at the Western Wall in Israeli occupied East Jerusalem. Cotler is the Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and former Canadian Minister of Justice under Paul Martin. For several years he has been actively promoting a “new” definition of anti-Semitism which includes broad protection of Israel from criticism. Some aspects of the definition appear problematic. CTIP asks Mr. Cotler to clarify his views. Read more.
Did the Israel lobby really achieve its main objective in the federal anti-racism strategy? It’s not as clear as they would like us to believe.
It was all smiles from B’nai Brith president David Mostyn (left) and MP Michael Levitt (right), Chair of the Canada Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, as Federal Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez released the Federal government’s long awaited anti-racism strategy. But despite their brave faces, Israel’s lobbyists were not able to get criticism of Israel defined as “racism” in the federal document. In fact, Israel is not even mentioned. Read more.
