Archive for March, 2010

The following is a Letter-to-the-Editor of The Varsity, submitted on behalf of the University of Toronto Liberals:

Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to the two Comment articles on Israeli Apartheid Week featured in the Feb. 25^th issue of the Varsity.  As President of the University of Toronto Liberals, I want to commend Asher Greenberg for his condemnation of IAW as dogmatic advocacy, rather than as an event to promote understanding and dialogue.  As a student who is involved in the political process, I understand the importance of debate on a university campus.  That must be our goal as an educational institution.  However, Israeli Apartheid Week does not promote dialogue.  It is not a debate.  It is a week of intimidation.  Anyone who attempts to debate issues at IAW events is shouted down and called hateful names.  Anyone who attempts to point out that IAW is an unfair singling-out of the Middle East’s only liberal democracy for dishonest criticism is silenced and made to feel threatened.

Israeli Apartheid Week is worthy of our condemnation.  I am proud of the Ontario Legislature’s unanimous motion to condemn IAW on February 25^th.  I am also proud of the work being done by the multi-partisan Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism.  A number of local Liberal MPs are active participants in the Coalition, including UofT’s own MP, Bob Rae, the MP for our neighbouring riding of Davenport, Mario Silva (who serves as the Coalition’s Vice-Chair), and Vancouver MP Hedy Fry who came to speak to the UofT Liberals on the issue of inclusivity and human rights earlier this year.  Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has been clear and unequivocal in his condemnation of IAW, noting that the malicious use of the term “apartheid” is a clear attempt to single out the Jewish state as criminal and illegitimate.

As President of the UofT Liberals, I am proud to speak out against Israeli Apartheid Week, and to stand with UofT students and their elected representatives against discrimination on campus.

Gabe De Roche, President of the UofT Liberals

And the following is the statement from Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff condemning Israeli Apartheid Week:

OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement today:

“On university campuses across the country this week, Israeli Apartheid Week will once again attempt to demonize and undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state. It is part of a global campaign of calls for divestment, boycotts and proclamations, and it should be condemned unequivocally and absolutely.

Apartheid is defined, in international law, as a crime against humanity. Israeli Apartheid Week is a deliberate attempt to portray the Jewish state as criminal.

The activities planned for the week will single out Jewish and Israeli students. They will be made to feel ostracized and even physically threatened in the very place where freedom should be paramount — on a university campus.

Let us be clear: criticism of Israeli government policy is legitimate. Wholesale condemnation of the State of Israel and the Jewish people is not legitimate. Not now, not ever.

The very premise of Israeli Apartheid Week runs counter to our shared values of mutual respect and tolerance, regardless of nationality, race or creed. It is an attempt to heighten the tensions in our communities around the tragic conflict in the Middle East.

On behalf of the Liberal party of Canada and the Parliamentary caucus, I urge all Canadians to join with us in condemning Israeli Apartheid Week, and to reject, in principle, all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance, both within this country and around the world.”