"It is a critical point that should be included as these two concepts can get conflated. The confusion between these two terms only encourages Israel’s impunity for its policies and actions violating Palestinian human rights. Pro-Palestine supporters also face deep consequences, such as losing their jobs, being harassed online, censured, and physically injured."
November 17, 2023
To:
Jesse Feith, Journalist, Montreal Gazette
Marilena Lucci, Editor in Chief, Montreal Gazette
Jeff Blond, Managing Editor, Montreal Gazette
Dear Jesse Feith, Marilena Lucci, and Jeff Blond,
I am writing to express concern about your article: “Amid tensions, McGill students vote on pro-Palestinian policy,” published on November 16 by Montreal Gazette.
Although you provide good coverage of the atmosphere in McGill regarding the inclusion of a call-to-action question in Gaza in a referendum, like quoting Alexandre Ashkir, SSMU president, you should have included a sentence about antisemitism and anti-zionism to make it more complete.
It is a critical point that should be included as these two concepts can get conflated. The confusion between these two terms only encourages Israel’s impunity for its policies and actions violating Palestinian human rights. Pro-Palestine supporters also face deep consequences, such as losing their jobs, being harassed online, censured, and physically injured.
According to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), “antisemitism is discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because they are Jewish.” Anti-zionism, in another part, is “standing against the creation of a nation-state with exclusive rights for Jews above others on the land.”
Anti-zionism is not antisemitism, as the fight for the liberation of Palestine is intertwined with the fight against antisemitism.
You could include this sentence after your paragraph describing the recent incidents Jewish people have faced in Montreal: antisemitism is the discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because of their religion, while anti-zionism is the opposition against the creation of a nation-state that would place Jews above Palestinians.
As a member of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), we were disappointed that you weren’t able to get a comment from the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights Mcgill, a student group, although we appreciate the fact that you requested a comment from them.
I hope Montreal Gazette will make this change and cover local events regarding the situation in Palestine-Israel in a complete manner.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East