Ottawa Protocal on Israel

A little light in the darkness.



Canada becomes first country to sign the Ottawa Protocol
See: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/department/media/releases/2011/2011-09-19.asp
Ottawa Protocol text at: http://www.antisem.org/archive/Ottawa-protocol-on-combating-antisemitism/
Canada Gets Tough on Anti-Semitism

The government of Canada took an historic step
Yesterday by signing the Ottawa Protocol to Combat
Anti-Semitism. By doing so, it recognized anti-Semitism as a
Pernicious evil and a global threat against the Jewish
People, the State of Israel and free, democratic countries
Everywhere. As Prime Minister Stephen Harper has noted,
"Those who would hate and destroy the Jewish people would
Ultimately hate and destroy the rest of us as
Well."

The protocol is a declaration that hatred of
This nature will not be tolerated in this country. It sets
Out an action plan for supporting initiatives that combat
Anti-Semitism and provides a framework for other nations to
Follow.

It also sets out a vibrant definition of
Anti-Semitism which, for the first time in history, links
Anti-Semitism to the denial of the right Jewish people have
To their ancestral home land -- the State of Israel. This,
In fact, is what sets post-World War Two anti-Semitism apart
From its historic roots. Today's anti-Semitism is all about
Denial: denial of the legitimacy of Zionism as a Jewish
Movement to reclaim the land of Israel; denial of a Jewish
History in connection to the holy land and, in particular,
The centrality of Jerusalem to the Jewish people; denial of
The Holocaust (while at the same time accusing Jews of
Nazism); and denial of Jews to live free of anti-Semitism,
Hate and intolerance.

In announcing the Protocols,
Foreign Minister John Baird has expressed his government's
Unequivocal support for the State of Israel. In referring to
This week's turmoil at the United Nations and the
Palestinian threat to unilaterally declare a state, Baird
Said, "Canada will not stand behind Israel at the United
Nations, we will stand right beside it. It is never a bad
Thing to do the right thing."

According to Baird,
More and more countries are refusing to participate in the
UN conference dubbed "Durban III" -- otherwise known as an
Anti-Semitic hate fest which began as a human rights forum
In South Africa in 2001; the forum ultimately degenerated
Into an anti-Semitic slinging match in which repressive Arab
And African countries blamed all the problems facing their
Own countries and the world on Israel. The governments of
France, New Zealand and Poland (today) joined Canada and 10
Other western nations this week by declaring they will not
Take part.

Unquestionably, the Government of Canada's
Stance on Israel is based on the principle of standing by
Your friends -- especially when they are democracies and
Advocates for human rights. Most Jewish leaders would agree
That Israel is indeed Canada's greatest ally in the fight
Against hate and intolerance.

But the fight against
Hatred and anti-Semitism must be won here in Canada as well.
The Ottawa Protocol is mostly the result of a report
Published this summer by a Canadian Parliamentary Coalition
To Combat Anti-Semitism which was comprised of leading
Canadian politicians who volunteered their time to probe the
Increasing and alarming tide of anti-Semitism in
Canada.

In a letter accompanying the report, Chairs
Of the Inquiry Panel and the Steering Committee Mario Silva
And Scott Reid wrote, "The Inquiry Panel's conclusion,
Unfortunately, is that the scourge of anti-Semitism is a
Growing threat in Canada, especially on the campuses of our
Universities." The report cites numerous examples of
Anti-Semitism on various campuses including the infamous
Incident in 2009 when Jewish students at York University
Were chased and barricaded themselves in the Hillel lounge
While a mob outside taunted them with anti-Semitic slurs.
The list of examples is quite long and
Disturbing.

Universities should take note of the
Report and the signing of the Ottawa Protocols. They should
Put an immediate end to hateful and fallacious events like
Israeli Apartheid Week; they should state unequivocally that
Freedom of speech should not be abused to provide a cover
For anti-Semitism; they should ensure that Jewish students
Feel welcome on campus and that their learning environment
Should be freed from anti-Israel occurrences and finally,
Universities must become accountable for allowing their
Private property to be venues for hateful conduct among
Students.

The Ottawa Protocol to Combat Anti-Semitism
Is a template for every Canadian to consider. But it is
especially a document of significance for universities that
have allowed themselves to become vehicles of hatred and
complicit in its promotion. As my friend, Professor Irwin
Cotler said last night at the Ottawa signing ceremony,
anti-Semitism is not only the longest known form of hatred
in the history of humanity -- it is the only form of hatred
that is truly global.

Every person of conscience
should take note of the Ottawa Protocols and never forget
the lessons of the Holocaust when the world was silent.