Huffington Post
By Avi Benlolo, President and CEO, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, Canada
The government of Canada took an historic step yesterday by signing the Ottawa Protocol to Combat Anti-Semitism. By doing so, it recognized anti-Semitism as a pernicious evil and a global threat against the Jewish people, the State of Israel and free, democratic countries everywhere. As Prime Minister Stephen Harper has noted, “Those who would hate and destroy the Jewish people would ultimately hate and destroy the rest of us as well.”
The protocol is a declaration that hatred of this nature will not be tolerated in this country. It sets out an action plan for supporting initiatives that combat anti-Semitism and provides a framework for other nations to follow.
It also sets out a vibrant definition of anti-Semitism which, for the first time in history, links anti-Semitism to the denial of the right Jewish people have to their ancestral home land — the State of Israel. This, in fact, is what sets post-World War Two anti-Semitism apart from its historic roots. Today’s anti-Semitism is all about denial: denial of the legitimacy of Zionism as a Jewish movement to reclaim the land of Israel; denial of a Jewish history in connection to the holy land and, in particular, the centrality of Jerusalem to the Jewish people; denial of the Holocaust (while at the same time accusing Jews of Nazism); and denial of Jews to live free of anti-Semitism, hate and intolerance.
In announcing the Protocols, Foreign Minister John Baird has expressed his government’s unequivocal support for the State of Israel. In referring to this week’s turmoil at the United Nations and the Palestinian threat to unilaterally declare a state, Baird said, “Canada will not stand behind Israel at the United Nations, we will stand right beside it. It is never a bad thing to do the right thing.”
According to Baird, more and more countries are refusing to participate in the UN conference dubbed “Durban III” — otherwise known as an anti-Semitic hate fest which began as a human rights forum in South Africa in 2001; the forum ultimately degenerated into an anti-Semitic slinging match in which repressive Arab and African countries blamed all the problems facing their own countries and the world on Israel. The governments of France, New Zealand and Poland (today) joined Canada and 10 other western nations this week by declaring they will not take part.
Unquestionably, the Government of Canada’s stance on Israel is based on the principle of standing by your friends — especially when they are democracies and advocates for human rights. Most Jewish leaders would agree that Israel is indeed Canada’s greatest ally in the fight against hate and intolerance.
But the fight against hatred and anti-Semitism must be won here in Canada as well. The Ottawa Protocol is mostly the result of a report published this summer by a Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism which was comprised of leading Canadian politicians who volunteered their time to probe the increasing and alarming tide of anti-Semitism in Canada.
In a letter accompanying the report, Chairs of the Inquiry Panel and the Steering Committee Mario Silva and Scott Reid wrote, “The Inquiry Panel’s conclusion, unfortunately, is that the scourge of anti-Semitism is a growing threat in Canada, especially on the campuses of our universities.” The report cites numerous examples of anti-Semitism on various campuses including the infamous incident in 2009 when Jewish students at York University were chased and barricaded themselves in the Hillel lounge while a mob outside taunted them with anti-Semitic slurs. The list of examples is quite long and disturbing.
Universities should take note of the report and the signing of the Ottawa Protocols. They should put an immediate end to hateful and fallacious events like Israeli Apartheid Week; they should state unequivocally that freedom of speech should not be abused to provide a cover for anti-Semitism; they should ensure that Jewish students feel welcome on campus and that their learning environment should be freed from anti-Israel occurrences and finally, universities must become accountable for allowing their private property to be venues for hateful conduct among students.
The Ottawa Protocol to Combat Anti-Semitism is a template for every Canadian to consider. But it is especially a document of significance for universities that have allowed themselves to become vehicles of hatred and complicit in its promotion. As my friend, Professor Irwin Cotler said last night at the Ottawa signing ceremony, anti-Semitism is not only the longest known form of hatred in the history of humanity — it is the only form of hatred that is truly global.
Every person of conscience should take note of the Ottawa Protocols and never forget the lessons of the Holocaust when the world was silent.
Good for you, dove!! It’s the Muslims who are not “in good standing in the community.” And all the proofs against them are true!
@ Ted Belman:
Yes, if one stays up to date with current law it does make a difference. When I get threatened by the ‘old school rednecks’ or anyone who implies that as a Jew I don’t stand a chance, I remind them that I have the law on my side which would include Human Rights and the Supreme court and I make sure that I have ‘backup’ in place as they are always scheming. It is difficult to get an arrest on any of them though – they are so busy making up false allegations to tie up the system – and of coarse hold positions in ‘key areas’, but as long as the dirt they dig up is falsified they don’t have a leg to stand on as they need real PROOF. If a Jew is in good standing in the community and doesn’t have anything personal that they rather not get exposed – then those Jews have a lot of mileage……hahaha
@ Economist:
Fisa court oversight: a look inside a secret and empty process
@ Economist:
Yada Yada Yada…..The Making of a Global Security State
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/series/glenn-greenwald-security-liberty
@ M Devolin:
Nice try Canook!
dove, you’re just angry because the Calgary Flames traded Iginla. The Leafs are out of the playoffs so I’m rooting for Boston AND Chicago (two of the “original six”). Sorry about Iginla. Honest…
@ M Devolin:
lol…..maybe for Easterners. The Western Provinces see it differently. The Prairie provinces are no longer the ‘have nots’ as the cost of living is far less than Ontario, Alberta or BC (housing that is) auto insurance and utilities. The Eastern provinces east of Quebec (high rate of unemployment) would probably disagree with you too. Canadians tend to root for the teams in their province, like Saskatchewan – you will never find more loyal fans of football anywhere else.
“Canadian Jews should come from the position that they are Canadians, and any affront to their civil rights is an affront to all Canadians.”
Well said, David. Only up here, no one says “Canadian Jews.” You just don’t say that. You’re either Canadian or you’re not. Jews are the Canadians who are always first on the front lines against all manner of unpatriotic behaviour, like Canadians cheering for the Montreal Canadians or the Ottawa Senators and not for the Toronto Maple Leafs… I actually had a Jewish friend give me heck because I was flying the flag of Israel on my porch without the Canadian flag beside it. I’m not joking.
Those Jews (most are the liberals/democrats in the diaspora) who do not stand squarely and unequivocally by IL are the enemy of IL. If U are not for, U are against.
France, a surprise!
“The major thrust of this Protocol, however, was to link, at last, anti-Semitism to anti-Zionism. I may have been a little instrumental on that when I submitted a paper in 2009 to the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism.”
Good for you! This is the key issue right now, as far as I’m concerned, which is to construe to the world the truth that anti-Zionism is, indeed, and always has been, a form of anti-Semitism. Anti-Zionism is the weapon of choice now for the anti-Semite to delegitimize the unassailable Jewish connection to the land of Israel and to emasculate Judaism, the very essence of which is Zionism.
Well done, Salomon, indeed.
I agree, Ted (#4). Justin Trudeau is NOT good news. The Liberals would give a party for the Waffen SS if it garnered votes in an election. Harper is doing well (except getting involved in Syria), I’m still paying a lot of taxes, and he’s not a closet anti-Semite like Justin Trudeau.
@ Ted Belman:
Not much of a difference, unfortunately.
The major thrust of this Protocol, however, was to link, at last, anti-Semitism to anti-Zionism. I may have been a little instrumental on that when I submitted a paper in 2009 to the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism.
@ Salomon Benzimra:I had forgotten though it looked familiar. Actually its closer to two years. Has it made a difference?
Ted, this Ottawa Protocol to Combat Anti-Semitism was signed over a year and a half ago.
Why posting it today?
There are plenty of Jewish Republicans, myself included, but they are not loudmouths like many Democrats. We don’t believe that populist rabble rousing should be met by populist rabble rousing, but with reasoned argument, factual refutation, and evidence of the “other’s” current track record. That is why trust in Obama has now dropped precipitously.
Congress is showing itself to be fed up, and even many on the other side have jumped on that bandwagon to save themselves.
Obama’s “some of my best friends are Jews” strategy no longer works and increasingly, action is required not chin music.
@ Eric R.:
Right on. Canadian Jews should come from the position that they are Canadians, and any affront to their civil rights is an affront to all Canadians.
@ dove:
I’d like to say Trudeau will politically self-destruct before he gets to power, but after witnessing the rise of Obama, anyone can rise to the top. Absolutely anyone – if supported by the media and the political elite.
Latest embarrassment involving Trudeau: He charges a $20,000 fee for speaking at struggling charity events – When one of those charities bitterly complained about their financial loss after an event featuring him, a red-faced Trudeau now talks about refunding his fee. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/06/16/pol-justin-trudeau-to-compensate-charities-for-speaking-fees.html
Ted Belman Said:
1) Ted, I understand, that unlike here in America, where most Jews would follow the Democrats into the ovens, Canadian Jews have actually had a considerable conversion to the Tories.
2) I can only hope that with Herr/Comrade Trudeau leading the Libs, that they and the Communists/NDP will split the vote (especially in Quebec, where the NDP is now dominant) and leave the Tories in power.
@ Ted Belman:
I agree. Right now Justin is just good entertainment. He KNOWS that the Jews in Canada were mainly liberal but most of that support has been lost and at some point in time he will have to address that. He has alot to learn about foreign policy.
@ Laura:
Since Jews take on the ‘flavour’ of the country that they live in the best and most effective way for the Jews to ‘be armed’ is by using their voice. Words backed up by action and facts are MOST effective here….Canadians by and large are not war mongers and we proudly DO NOT have a gun in every second household. We hold positions of power, influence and pray for our leaders for Adonai to lead them. It works far better!!! We challenge anti-Semitism on every level and yes continue to educate our own.
@ Eric R.:Don’t forget that the Liberals under Trudeau are coming on strong and they are very Left. I don’t think the Jews will be massacred but they should support Harper in every way they can as he is supporting them and Israel.
Instead of running, Jews need to be armed.
PM Harper may be the most righteous head of state on Earth today when it comes to Jews. Is he perfect? No. After all, he deals with a media so far left, they make ABC, CBS and NBC look like Arutz Sheva by comparison. But when you realize that the genocidal Jew-killing Communists of the NDP are his primary opposition, I will take even the slightest imperfection.
If the Tories lose the next election (and Ted can speak to this better than I can), then Jews in Canada will be massacred just as much as they are in France.
Well Yamit? Sorry to say, but many Jews in Canada DO still have a voice and a prosperous life. Stephen Harper is smart. He knows that the end of the Jews in Canada would mean the end of Canada. Duh?? Do you really think that Adonai ONLY wants ONE country to rise above????