News Release: CIC Commends the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois for Denouncing Israeli Apartheid Week and Condemns the NDP for Refusing To Do So
March 12, 2010 – 1:34 pmThe CIC released the following news release today:
CIC Commends the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois for Denouncing Israeli Apartheid Week and Condemns the NDP for Refusing To Do So
Ottawa, Ontario
March 12, 2010
The Canada-Israel Committee is deeply appreciative of the motion introduced in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Tim Uppal (Edmonton–Sherwood Park) – and supported by the Liberal Party – condemning ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’, an odious event that takes place annually on university and college campuses across Canada.
The CIC also notes a similar motion introduced by the Bloc Quebecois also denouncing the use of the term apartheid to describe Israel.
“The use of the term apartheid to describe Israel is scurrilous and completely false and serves to intimidate and ostracize Jewish students on campus. The attempt to compare Israel, a democracy that provides full rights to its Arab minority population, is part of a larger concerted campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel. The CIC is particularly grateful to Conservative Member of Parliament Tim Uppal for introducing and stewarding the government motion” stated Moshe Ronen, CIC National Chair.
Finally, Mr Ronen condemned the NDP’s House Leader Libby Davies for not only scuttling any good faith attempt to reach all-party consensus on the issue, but publicly taking credit for it.
“Libby Davies’ utter disregard for the plight of students who are bullied and intimidated on campus in Canada is staggering and unacceptable. This is not an issue of free speech. In fact, the Israel Apartheid Week stifles dialogue, does not constitute legitimate criticism and is simply hateful. Absent an unambiguous disavowal on the part of Jack Layton, the party’s leader, we will have to assume that her positions reflect NDP policy and draw our own conclusions”, stated Ronen.
Possibly related posts:
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- Students Combat Israel Apartheid Week
- Bedouin-Israeli Vice Consul Responds to Apartheid Week
- Liberal Parliamentarians for Israel Call on Canadians to Help Prevent the Politicization of Canadian Campuses
- News Release: Jewish Community Leadership Meets with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
8 Responses to “News Release: CIC Commends the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois for Denouncing Israeli Apartheid Week and Condemns the NDP for Refusing To Do So”
Did the motion pass?
By Joe on Mar 12, 2010
Progressive Jews Welcome Defeat of Motion Condemning Israeli Apartheid Week
OTTAWA, March 12 /CNW Telbec/ – Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), a national network of Jewish human-rights activists, welcomes yesterday’s defeat of MP Tim Uppal’s House of Commons motion condemning Israeli Apartheid Week.
“This shows courage, to stand up to the Orwellian attempts by Israel’s supporters to bully Israel’s critics into silence,” said IJV spokesperson Sid Shniad.
“Apartheid”, the term Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and former prime minister Olmert used to describe the occupation’s effects, shouldn’t be controversial.
“Whether or not you agree with the term ‘apartheid’, all Canadians should defend free speech and oppose limiting debate, especially considering these terms are part of the Israeli mainstream debate,” said Shniad.
IJV also commends Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath for her statement calling a similar provincial motion by MPP Peter Shurman “divisive by nature” and calls for the Ontario legislature to reject such motions in the future.
Founded in 2008, IJV-Canada is a large national organization of Jewish activists committed to social justice and universal human rights.
For further information: Sid Shniad, (604) 591-3099
By IJV on Mar 12, 2010
Hey Sid, please explain the following to me:
“IJV-Canada is a large national organization of Jewish activists”
I wonder just how “Jewish” your “large” membership is. Last I checked they had just over 150 members nationwide, many of whom are named Mohammed.
“the Orwellian attempts by Israel’s supporters to bully Israel’s critics into silence”
Do you have no sense of irony? Who just let you post your screed to their website?????
By Mark on Mar 15, 2010
Not a particularly smart move by the CIC, but significant it will most certainly be. So what do you call what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinians, CIC?
A better question is why you think anybody cares what you think. Israeli apartheid it is. And that’s what the people of Canada will call it.
You can call it whatever you want – thanks to Bibi’s clever maneuverings, it’s a done deal that Israel is a criminal, racist state.
..
By stevieb on Mar 15, 2010
You should also remember that you are the CANADA Israel Committee. Canadians will not support an Apartheid Israel no matter how much money you think you can through at our politicians.
Get on the right side of history, before it’s too late. The lies are up…
By stevieb on Mar 15, 2010
The CIC press release omits one vital fact. The BQ motion also denounced the use of “the word anti-Semitic to describe any criticism against Israel”. It appears to be deliberately deceptive that the CIC omitted to mention this. Do you agree that the use of the word anti-Semitic to describe any criticism of Israel should be denounced? If so, you haven’t done a very good job of opposing this phenomenon. In fact, you’ve helped promote it.
By David on Mar 16, 2010
Mark is engaging in the unfortunate phenomenon of trying to delegimitize Jewish criticism of Israel by claiming that Jewish critics aren’t really Jews. Mark is wrong on both counts a) to be a member of IJV one needs to be Jewish – there are no IJV members named “Mohammed” and b) Mark’s membership figures are out of date. IJV had around 150 members when it was founded. It is much larger now. An interesting trend is the upsurge of membership applications whenever Bernie Farber is quoted saying IJV is miniscule or “beyond the Pale”. Keep it up Bernie, you’re IJV’s best recruiter.
By David on Mar 16, 2010
So why has the CIC just sent a group of white supremacist bloggers on an all expense paid tour to Israel?
By Mel on Mar 22, 2010