Global, Israel, Politics

More From Canada

Update to Canadian Conservatives Woo the Jews:

Leading members of the Jewish community – many identified as Liberals – have sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking him to withdraw a taxpayer-funded Conservative flyer that they say portrays the Liberal Party as anti-Semitic.
…. “We find it highly disturbing that any party or parliamentarian would attempt to use Israel as a wedge to divide the Jewish community and, indeed, Canadians, for partisan gain,” the letter says.
“Support for Israel should not be portrayed as exclusive to one party. The Liberal Party has a history of support for Israel, working co-operatively and effectively with the Canadian-Jewish community and speaking and acting against terrorism.” [Globe and Mail.]

The letter can be viewed in full at The Globe and Mail. Note that the article picks up on the ridiculousness of the Tories trying to claim that one party is more pro-Israel than another, but does not pick up on the fact that Jews can have multiples opinions on Israel. Note that the letter also ignores the latter, and urges all political parties to “stand behind [Israel].”
Still, I just don’t understand why they didn’t ask me to sign… Aren’t I prominent enough?

5 thoughts on “More From Canada

  1. And when Democrats in the US want to portray themselves as the “non-racist” party as opposed to the “bigoted” Republicans the liberal Jewish community plays along nicely. Despite the Republicans admirable track record on civil rights.
    You’re a hypocrite. Let the Canadian conservatives alone.

  2. @formermuslim, I’ve called out US political parties for similar shenanigans. My stance is consistent. As I said, I’m not defending the Liberal party out of loyalty – I don’t vote for them either.

  3. Note that the article picks up on the ridiculousness of the Tories trying to claim that one party is more pro-Israel than another, but does not pick up on the fact that Jews can have multiples opinions on Israel
    Presumably, Canadian Jews have all types of opinions on Israel.
    So, why is this such a big deal then? Wouldn’t those who disagree with the Tories’ idea of “more pro-Israel” just vote for other parties anyway (assuming that anybody votes on that issue to begin with.)

  4. @Jonathan1, It’s an issue that many people (politicians, educators, Jews themselves) seem to forget: that Jews can have multiple opinions when it comes to Israel. There’s no one right answer. It’s certainly not Canada-specific. But these flyers made assumptions (Jew = pro-Israel, pro-Israel has only one meaning) and that’s what I’m calling the Tories out on.

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