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<P><B><FONT size=3>Joint Statement on Minister Jason Kenney’s condemnation of
Israeli Apartheid Week </P>
<P>March 9, 2012 </P></B></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=3
face=Calibri,Calibri>
<P>As organizations and groups committed to protecting freedom of expression and
public debate on Palestine/Israel, we demand that Minister of Citizenship,
Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney immediately retract his March
7</FONT></FONT><FONT size=1 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=1
face=Calibri,Calibri>th </FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri>statement "condemning Israel Apartheid Week".
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/statements/2012/2012-03-07.asp
</P>
<P>This statement is the Conservative government’s latest attempt to silence
activist groups and organizations in Canada that act or speak in support of the
basic human rights of the Palestinian people. While Kenney’s statement claims to
value "free exchanges of ideas" and "academic dialogue," his targeted
condemnation of Israeli Apartheid Week events on Canadian universities this week
(and in previous years) is a blatant attempt to shut down free expression for
Palestine solidarity on campus. </P>
<P>The Harper government’s track record clearly reveals that it does not
actually value the university as "an environment in which academic discourse can
take place freely". Indeed, it has been actively involved in undermining this
ideal that it claims to uphold. In 2009 the Conservative Minister of State
(Science and Technology), Gary Goodyear was widely criticized by Faculty for
Palestine and academics across the country for his unprecedented and dangerous
acts of state political interference in the public funding of an academic
conference. The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) called for
the Minister’s resignation around this incident, finding it "simply
unacceptable" for the Minister to engage in any act that "compromises the
integrity and public purpose of universities". The sole target of the Minister’s
actions was an academic conference at York University titled
</FONT></FONT><I><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=3
face=Calibri,Calibri>Israel/Palestine: Mapping Models of Statehood and Paths to
Peace</I></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=3
face=Calibri,Calibri>. His actions were so egregious that they have since been
the subject of two major inquiries, one of which is written up in the newly
published book titled </FONT></FONT><I><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri>No Debate: The Israel lobby and free speech at
Canadian universities</I></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri>. </P>
<P>Free expression on Canadian campuses, including both academic discourse and
political analysis, must be protected from these kinds of political interference
and all attempts of censorship. Unlike the Conservative government, we encourage
and invite open debate and discussion on the full spectrum of views on the
Israel/Palestine conflict. As public events on university campuses, IAW talks
are open to anyone who wishes to attend and is willing to participate within the
standard regulations governing debate and events on university campuses. </P>
<P>For eight years, Israeli Apartheid Week has provided a model for free and
open discussion by providing a week-long series of public lectures by academics
and activists on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Currently IAW events are held
on campuses in over 100 cities around the world. Many of these lectures address,
in a factual manner, the nature of Israeli rule of a Palestinian population of
some five million people within the borders which it controls and the effects of
the exclusion of a similar number of Palestinian refugees. This system of
blockade, occupation, settlement, discrimination and exclusion has been
described as a form of </P>
<P>apartheid by a wide range of scholars, journalists, activists, politicians,
UN officials and legal experts including former Minister of Government in South
Africa Ronnie Kasrils and former Special Rapporteur to the UN Commission on
Human Rights John Dugard. IAW events examine these conditions while also
building awareness for the movement for boycotts, divestment and sanctions
against apartheid Israel as called for by over 170 Palestinian civil society
organizations in 2005. </P>
<P>The recent welcome for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Ottawa is
just the latest indicator of where the current government stands on this issue.
It is a serious threat to democratic interchange that the Harper Conservatives
use their position as government to try to shut down discussion and debate on
their uncritical support for every action of the Israeli state, including
ongoing violations of international law and the human rights of Palestinians.
</P>
<P>Israeli Apartheid Week has played an important role in opening up this
discussion. This has been recognized by Palestinians, Jewish anti-Zionists, and
South Africans including Bishop Desmond Tutu, and journalist Naomi Klein.
Israeli Apartheid Week has always condemned anti-Semitism and all forms or
racism including Islamophobia, and will continue to do so.
</P></FONT></FONT><B><FONT size=3>
<P>Endorsing signatories: </P></B></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri>
<P>Boycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign (BIAC) – Vancouver, Coast Salish
Territories </P>
<P>Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver </P>
<P>Canada Palestine Support Network (CanPalNet) </P>
<P>Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) </P>
<P>Canadian Boat to Gaza </P>
<P>Canadian Peace Alliance </P>
<P>Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) </P>
<P>Centre for Social Justice </P>
<P>Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) – Toronto </P>
<P>Coalition of Arab Canadian Professionals and Community Associations (CAPCA)
</P>
<P>College and University Workers United (CUWU, Montreal) </P>
<P>Edmonton Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (EQuAIA) </P>
<P>Edmonton Small Press Association (ESPA) </P>
<P>Educators for Peace and Justice (EPJ) </P>
<P>Faculty for Palestine – F4P (Toronto) </P>
<P>Faculty 4 Palestine (F4P Alberta) </P>
<P>Faculty 4 Palestine (F4P Carleton) </P>
<P>Greater Toronto Workers Assembly (GTWA) </P>
<P>Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War </P>
<P>Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) </P>
<P>Independent Jewish Voices, Toronto </P>
<P>International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) </P>
<P>Labour for Palestine </P>
<P>Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network </P>
<P>The Louis Riel Bolivarian Circle – Toronto </P>
<P>National Council of Latin American and Caribbean Women of Canada - LATIN@S
</P>
<P>New Socialist Group </P>
<P>Nightslantern Suppressed News </P>
<P>No One Is Illegal Toronto </P>
<P>Not In Our Name: Jews Opposed to Zionism (NION) </P>
<P>Ontario Coalition Against Poverty - OCAP </P>
<P>OPIRG - Toronto </P>
<P>Palestine House Educational and Cultural Centre </P>
<P>Palestine Solidarity Working Group, Laurentian University, Sudbury </P>
<P>Palestine Solidarity Network – Edmonton </P>
<P>Peace Alliance Winnipeg </P>
<P>Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA) </P>
<P>Regina Solidarity Group </P>
<P>Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network </P>
<P>Seriously Free Speech Committee </P>
<P>Socialist Project </P>
<P>SPHR UWO – Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights at Western University </P>
<P>SPHR Ryerson </P>
<P>SPHR – UBC </P>
<P>Students Against Israeli Apartheid at York University </FONT></FONT><FONT
size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri>- Carleton
</P></FONT></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=3
face=Calibri,Calibri>
<P>Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA)- Regina </P>
<P>Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) – University of Toronto </P>
<P>Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA) at York University </P>
<P>Tadamon! - Montreal </P>
<P>Teachers for Palestine (T4P) – Toronto </P>
<P>Toronto Bolivia Solidarity </P>
<P>Toronto Coalition to Stop the War (TCSW) </P>
<P>Winnipeg CAIA </P>
<P>Women in Solidarity with Palestine (WSP) </P></FONT></FONT><B><FONT size=5
face=Verdana,Verdana><FONT size=5 face=Verdana,Verdana>
<P>Statement – Minister Kenney issues statement on 'Israeli Apartheid Week'
</P></FONT></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Verdana,Verdana><FONT size=2
face=Verdana,Verdana>
<P>Ottawa, March 7, 2012 </B></FONT></FONT><FONT size=2
face=Verdana,Verdana><FONT size=2 face=Verdana,Verdana>– The Honourable Jason
Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the
following statement on 'Israeli Apartheid Week': </P>
<P>Like many Canadians I am concerned with the rise of anti-Israel activities on
campuses across Canada, culminating in the so-called 'Israeli Apartheid Week'
(IAW), which is often promoted in a manner that disregards the rights and safety
of Jewish students and professors. </P>
<P>Universities are meant to offer an environment in which academic discourse
can take place freely. Jewish faculty and students have the right to engage in
this debate without feeling the need to conceal their identity, or to
self-censor. </P>
<P>The irony of this week cannot be overlooked. While singling out the only
liberal democracy in the Middle East for condemnation, the organizers of IAW
ignore Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's brutal slaughter of his own people and
the suppression of basic human rights in many countries around the globe. </P>
<P>Debate over Israeli policy is legitimate and encouraged through academic
dialogue. However, there is a point at which well-intentioned debate is overrun
by hatred and intolerance, creating a toxic environment that prevents meaningful
dialogue on important issues from taking place. </P>
<P>The organizers of Israeli Apartheid Week use the cover of academic freedom to
demonize and delegitimize the State of Israel. In reality, this week is nothing
more than an unbalanced attempt to paint Israel and her supporters as racist.
This week runs contrary to Canadian values of tolerance, mutual respect, and
understanding. </P>
<P>As Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I call on all
Canadians to reject anti-Semitism and all forms of racism, discrimination and
intolerance, which are unacceptable and completely contrary to Canada’s
fundamental values. </P></FONT></FONT><B><FONT size=3>
<P>NOTE: </B></FONT><FONT size=3 face=Calibri,Calibri><FONT size=3
face=Calibri,Calibri>This statement was originally accessed at the following
link
http://www.jasonkenney.ca/news/statement-by-minister-jason-kenney-condemning-israel-apartheid-week/
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