The New anti-Semitism: criticism of Israel

From Aljazeera English, a commentary on the quasi-Parliamentary committee's report about the supposed rise of anti-Semitism in Canada.

Anti-Semitism will always be with us because stupid, bigoted people will always be with us. But to attempt to change a definition of an abomination like anti-Semitism to fit political, evangelical or Christian Zionist ends is dangerous and profoundly stupid.

There is an element in the Canadian government who wish to support Israel, no matter what it does. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. It also sounds like treason. The Harperites are trying to change the definition of that, too.

Canada clamps down on criticism of Israel

While the CPCCA's final report does contain some cases of real anti-Semitism, the committee has provided little evidence that anti-Semitism has actually increased in Canada in recent years. Instead, it has focused a disproportionate amount of effort and resources on what it calls a so-called "new anti-Semitism": criticism of Israel.

Indeed, the real purpose of the CPCCA coalition seems to be to stifle critiques of Israeli policy and disrupt pro-Palestinian solidarity organizing in Canada, including, most notably, Israeli Apartheid Week events. Many of the CPCCA's findings, therefore, must be rejected as both an attack on freedom of speech and freedom of protest, and as recklessly undermining the fight against real instances of anti-Semitism.

Free F-35's with every frozen settlement

While defense minister Peter MacKay and Prime Minister Stephen Harper are tying themselves in knots trying to justify the ever-larger number of billions of dollars they're going to spend on the useless hunk of flying electronic junk called the F-35, they missed out on the "Free F-35's with that" offer. All you have to do is freeze a settlement for three months.

We have some that are already pre-frozen, for more than three months every year - Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Alert - and many more. Heck. Most of settled Canada is frozen for at least three months a year.

How many F-35's to we get for that?

Or is the offer not available in North America?

"This weekend, the Obama administration promised to turn over $3 billion in stealth fighters to Israel (supplementing the 20 F-35s it will buy with the $2.75 billion in "grants" it gets from Washington) and veto any U.N. resolution that questions Israel's legitimacy -- all in exchange for Israel's pledge to extend a ten-month partial settlement moratorium for another 90 days."

Obama's Embarrassing gift to Israel by Mark Perry

Canada is Israel...at least in Venezuela

You learn something new every day.

Canada is really earning its stripes as the Israel's new BFF in the whole world.

This from Yves Engler, Montreal activist.

When will Canadians demand Ottawa stand up for justice for Palestinian people?

Compared to Ottawa’s cheerleading, most of the world was hostile to Israel’s actions [Gaza massacre]. Many countries criticized the killing of civilians. In solidarity with Gaza, Venezuela expelled Israel’s ambassador at the start of the bombardment and broke off all diplomatic relations two weeks later. Israel didn’t need to worry, since Ottawa was prepared to help out. The Canadian Embassy in Caracas took over Israel’s diplomatic relations there. Canada officially became Israel, at least in Venezuela.

I'm so proud (not).

Plucky little Israel

The stories are all over the place today, in print and online, of the attack by Israeli commandos on a flotilla of ships laden with relief supplies for the people of Gaza. In the millions and millions of words, the Israeli military whines to the world that the people on board the boats "hit them with sticks".

Now, let's think about that for a moment. One of the most well-equipped military groups in the world - probably the most heavily militarized for its size - is complaining that someone hit them with sticks, for gawd's sake. These are the guys who rappelled down from a helicopter in the dark in international waters looking like the cast from Star Wars, automatic weapons at the ready and, by some reports, firing them as they hit the deck and somehow they are the victims. What are they putting in the water over there?

Of course, here in Canada we had a unique prospective on all this. Our land was graced by the presence of Bibi Netanyahu on an official visit to his BFF Stephen Harper and his neocon friends in faith, no doubt drooling at every word that dropped from Bibi's lips. He made a speech to about a thousand followers in Toronto and collected a load of money for Ethiopian (?) Jews in Israel, I believe. It was the "Walk with Israel" appeal.

Do I think the timing was an accident? No. I'm sure Netanyahu knew of the timing of the raid. He was where he thought he would be the most welcome. And he could always use the excuse that he wasn't at home when it all happened.

Canada is now considered to be Israel's closest ally in the world. For the life of me, I can't think why. Harper's reply to the press was along the lines of regretting the action - kinda like slopping red wine on your host's antique linen tablecloth - but saying they'd had a nice chat anyway. Shame about the massacre that messed things up.

At least two Canadians were aboard those ships. No word whether they're alive or dead. But they were dangerous - you know, peace and human rights activists. You can't get much more dangerous than that.

While the rest of the world reels in horror, Canada regrets the lost photo-op. Harper's guts must be tied up in a knot. He's such a control freak that he blows gaskets when he can't manage every aspect of his image to the public. The video of him pressing the flesh with Bibi for the cameras is a sight to see. It looks like Harper has just been handed a two-week-old mackerel that's been left out in the sun.

How much longer will the Canadian government officially back the Israeli regime? What exactly do they have to do before they're give a whack up the side of the head? When will our country stand up and tell plucky little Israel that it can't do what it plucking well feels like whenever it wants?

As usual, more questions than answers.

A trial for David Frum - in a just world

Dr. Juan Cole, editor of the blog Informed Comment, mentioned our very own native son David Frum in his comment on February 18th.

The Decline of the Israeli Right and the Increasing Desperation of the 'Anti-Semitism' Charge

"...[F]rum, a Canadian who only became naturalized as a US citizen in 2007, was important in the early years of the Bush presidency and crafted many of the falsehoods and propaganda points that got up the Iraq War. He bears a heavy responsibility for the unnecessary deaths of over 4000 US military personnel, for the deaths of some 600,000 Iraqis, and for the displacement of nearly 4 million Iraqis. In a just world, David Frum would be on trial for his role in severe violations of international law, as would Bush, Cheney, Perle, and the rest of those bald-faced liars and warmongers."

In a just world...

David Frum's embracing U.S. citizenship might have been a clever move, as the U.S. does not recognize the ICC and would not extradite him to the Hague to be tried for war crimes.

Stephen Harper made his case for equating criticism of Israeli government policy with antisemitism back in 2008.

Harper also said, "Some of the criticism brewing in Canada against the state of Israel, including from some members of Parliament, is similar to the attitude of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned yesterday.

"I guess my fear is what I see happening in some circles is (an) anti-Israeli sentiment, really just as a thinly disguised veil for good old-fashioned anti-Semitism, which I think is completely unacceptable," Harper said in an interview with CJAD radio

This is both ignorant and dangerous.

But then, so are Stephen Harper and his policies. He puts us all in danger.

Stockwell Day, fundamentalist Christian, unquestioning Israel supporter and then Foreign Minister for Canada, signed an agreement with Israel which pretty well dragged us into defending Israel no matter what it did. He first denied then acknowledged that he had done this.

The matter came up again recently with the following pearls falling from the lips of Peter Kent, junior Foreign Affairs Minister:

Junior Foreign Affairs minister Peter Kent is suggesting Canada would rush to Israel's defence in a military confrontation, telling a Toronto publication that “an attack on Israel would be considered an attack on Canada.”

But he later declined to say whether this means that Canada would automatically declare war on an aggressor attacking Israel.

Ahem! Excuse me! Don't the rest of us get any say in this?