PFEX: Canada-Israel: The Other Special Relationship (video) and letter to NDP on CPCCA
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Mary-Jo Nadeau
Dec 3, 2010, 11:13:42 AM12/3/10
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Hello PFEX,
Two new items of interest on the CPCCA:
1) a video documentary just released by Al Jazeera English called "Canada-Israel: The Other Special Relationship"
2) a letter to NDP member Olivia Chow (from Khaled Mouammar of the Canadian Arab Federation), on
the NDP's participation in the CPCCA. * Please consider writing the NDP a letter on the issue *
Details on both items below - *please share widely*
* * * * * * * * * * *
1) CANADA-ISRAEL: THE OTHER SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP by Al Jazeera English (Fault Lines program, 23 minutes).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ2MY58RunM
In Canada, a high-stakes battle is being waged between a powerful pro-Israel lobby close to the conservative government, and a growing Palestinian solidarity movement that calls Israel an apartheid state that should be subject to boycott, divestment and sanctions.
But there is one point on which both sides agree: over the past five or six years, Canada has become one of Israel's most fervent supporters on the world stage.
What are the implications for a country that has traditionally been seen as more of an honest-broker in the Israel-Palestinian conflict than the US, its more powerful neighbour to the south?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ2MY58RunM
In Canada, a high-stakes battle is being waged between a powerful pro-Israel lobby close to the conservative government, and a growing Palestinian solidarity movement that calls Israel an apartheid state that should be subject to boycott, divestment and sanctions.
But there is one point on which both sides agree: over the past five or six years, Canada has become one of Israel's most fervent supporters on the world stage.
What are the implications for a country that has traditionally been seen as more of an honest-broker in the Israel-Palestinian conflict than the US, its more powerful neighbour to the south?
On this episode of Fault Lines, Avi Lewis opens a window into the debate over Canada-Israel: The other special relationship.
2) Letter to Olivia Chow (NDP), December 1, 2010
Dear Olivia,
It was a pleasure meeting you and Jack at the Palais Royale on Saturday November 27 and discussing with you issues of mutual interest.
I will be frank with you and tell you that our community is quite disappointed with the NDP’s participation in the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat anti-Semitism (CPCCA).
The CPCCA is a racist entity since it believes in a hierarchy of types of racism by putting anti-Semitism above all other types of racism, and it ignores racism directed against Indigenous Peoples and racialized groups, and Islamophobia.
The Bloc Québécois called the CPCCA process "tainted and partisan" and withdrew its two MPs, Luc Desnoyers and Eve-Mary Thai Thi Lac, from the committee. You stated that the NDP did not follow suit and withdraw its two members because its policy is not to censor the personal views of its MPs.
With all due respect I do not accept this explanation. In the recent past the NDP demanded and obtained a common stand from all its MPs when the vote was called on the Gun Registry and Mining Ethics Bills, notwithstanding the personal views of some of its MPs.
Regrettably, by allowing the two MPs to continue participating in the CPCCA the NDP turned its back on all other types of racism and failed to send a clear message that they firmly oppose racism.
Dear Olivia,
It was a pleasure meeting you and Jack at the Palais Royale on Saturday November 27 and discussing with you issues of mutual interest.
I will be frank with you and tell you that our community is quite disappointed with the NDP’s participation in the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat anti-Semitism (CPCCA).
The CPCCA is a racist entity since it believes in a hierarchy of types of racism by putting anti-Semitism above all other types of racism, and it ignores racism directed against Indigenous Peoples and racialized groups, and Islamophobia.
The Bloc Québécois called the CPCCA process "tainted and partisan" and withdrew its two MPs, Luc Desnoyers and Eve-Mary Thai Thi Lac, from the committee. You stated that the NDP did not follow suit and withdraw its two members because its policy is not to censor the personal views of its MPs.
With all due respect I do not accept this explanation. In the recent past the NDP demanded and obtained a common stand from all its MPs when the vote was called on the Gun Registry and Mining Ethics Bills, notwithstanding the personal views of some of its MPs.
Regrettably, by allowing the two MPs to continue participating in the CPCCA the NDP turned its back on all other types of racism and failed to send a clear message that they firmly oppose racism.
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