South of the border, any time high profile politicians such as Bernie Saunders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez even gently criticize Israel for breaking international law, they are labelled by President Trump and others as antisemitic. Over the last number of years, the pro-Israel lobby has been very successful at getting governments, both in the US and here in Canada, to adopt legislation that equates criticism of the state of Israel with antisemitism.
Of particular concern to me is a new motion coming to Vancouver City Council on July 23. NPA Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung is proposing that the city adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s very controversial Working Definitions of Antisemitism (IHRA-WDA). You can find the full motion being proposed here, and the IHRA’s definitions here.
Interesting that Councillor Kirby-Yung is proposing her motion right after the federal government adopted a similar line.
It’s very dangerous to start restricting freedom of speech, particularly speech concerning human rights, based on the IHRA-WDA. Even the BC Civil Liberties Association has criticized the definition, calling it “extremely vague” and “open to misinterpretation”.
Some people confuse antisemitism with any criticism against Israel as a nation. I am strongly opposed to antisemitism, which is discrimination against Jewish people. I am not, however, opposed to criticising the actions of Israel. According to a new EKOS national survey, 37% of Jewish Canadians are critical of the Israeli government too, and 48% “believe that accusations of antisemitism are often used to silence legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies.”
This motion must not pass; the IHRA’s Working Definition of Antisemitism is just not workable. Sadly, it will do nothing to prevent antisemitism in Vancouver, and will undermine freedom of dissent and human rights struggles. It will also set a dangerous precedent for other Canadian cities.
If you can, please take a moment to speak against Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung’s motion, which will be presented July 23 at City Hall. You can do so using this simple guide to email each member of city council before that date, or speak against the motion at City Hall by signing up to be a speaker (speaker.request@vancouver.ca). Our freedom of speech will be severely restricted if her motion is approved.
MORE INFO:
Background package/guide to opposing the July 23 motion
BCCLA position paper on IHRA-WDA definition
How Not to Fight Antisemitism: A Critique of IHRA-WDA (pdf)
Independent Jewish Voices campaign
Jews for Peace: ’40+ Jewish groups worldwide oppose equating antisemitism with criticism of Israel’
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