Ontario provience condemns Israel Apartheid Week

01 March 2010

The legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario has condemned 'Israel Apartheid Week' which is taking place in Universities around the world. All 30 members of the 107-seat provincial legislature who were present on February 25 voted for the resolution that denounced the campus event which began on 01 March at universities and colleges in 35 cities around the world. Israel Apartheid Week events and speakers are scheduled at several university campuses across Ontario.

The term Israeli Apartheid Week incites "hatred against Israel, a democratic state that respects the rule of law and human rights, and the use of the word 'apartheid' in this context diminishes the suffering of those who were victims of a true apartheid regime in South Africa," Conservative legislator Peter Shurman told Shalom Life, a Toronto-based Jewish Web site.

"If you're going to label Israel as apartheid, then you are also calling Canada apartheid and you are attacking Canadian values," he said. "The use of the phrase 'Israeli Apartheid Week' is about as close to hate speech as one can get without being arrested, and I'm not certain it doesn't actually cross over that line."

Jewish students across Canada have launched several campaigns to counter Israel Apartheid Week. Meanwhile, York University in Toronto canceled a pro-Israel event that had been scheduled for Feb. 22, citing "security" concerns. One of the speakers was to have been conservative U.S. scholar Daniel Pipes,  who spoke at York in 2003 amid threats of violence.

» Anti-Semitic incidents in Canada at all time high

» Has anti-Semitism increased or decreased in your area in recent years? Poll_tab

WJC and Supporting Israel

Comments

We welcome any comments you may have on this article.

  • Your email address will not be displayed on the website.
  • Comments will be reviewed before posted on the website.

rofl, over 2 years ago

I google for Belgian only items on this topic, and this is what I find just typicall :D

Jimmy Mcgowan, over 2 years ago

Hmmmm..........

Somehow there seems to be some amount of legitimacy to this objection. Tfhough one might understand the principle of the application of "separation", the theories on it's application and practice are open for debate. Apartheid is synonomous with tragedy, just as holocaust is synonomous with tragedy and the recognition and acknowledgement of the tragedies surrounding these hateful words must be understood. The desire and ability of people to intellectually define the terms is limited, as well as restricted; compromise in the manner of it's usage doesn't seem to be the order of the day.

don, over 2 years ago

What is israel Apartheid Week?

Hatch

If you are a facebook user you may choose to have the comment appear on your wall.

Comments are moderated and we reserve the right to edit or remove any which are derogatory or offensive.

The WJC is not responsible for the content of any comments.

Button_tweet Button_fb Button_youtube Button_rss

Get Involved

Opinion Poll

Do you think a political solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians will be achieved in the coming years?