"Firebombing a Synagogue, targeting Jewish homes, and painting Nazi graffiti is clearly anti-Semitic. However, there is no evidence in the editorial such anti-Semitic, hateful, illegal acts are undertaken by individuals protesting the genocide conducted in Gaza by Israel."
January 3, 2024
Re: “If it’s not about Jews, stop targeting them.”
Contrary to statements by MP Marco Mendicino, being an anti-Zionist is not being anti-Semitic. Zionism is a settler-colonial philosophy developed during the late 1800’s to provide land for a Jewish homeland. Like the colonization of North America, where the Indigenous population was marginalized and their lands taken by force, this thread of Zionism continues in the occupied Palestinian territories where Jewish people are placed above Palestinians. However, many Jewish and Israeli people wish to curtail this element of the philosophy.
Firebombing a Synagogue, targeting Jewish homes, and painting Nazi graffiti is clearly anti-Semitic. However, there is no evidence in the editorial such anti-Semitic, hateful, illegal acts are undertaken by individuals protesting the genocide conducted in Gaza by Israel. The individuals responsible for these crimes should be fully prosecuted.
MP Mendocino is well known for his unwavering support for Israel. A good editorial writer would have contacted a person such as Thomas Woodley at Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East for a comment to provide necessary balance and clarity.
There are Jewish people who use profits from their businesses to financially support the Israeli Occupation Force [IOF]. Ms. Heather Reisman, owner of Indigo and Chapters, and her partner, Mr. Gerry Schwartz, founded and fund the Heseg Foundation which treats ‘lone soldiers’ in the IOF to an all expenses paid education in Israel following their service. Convincing members of the public to purchase books elsewhere has nothing to do with Ms. Reisman’s religion but addresses her illegal support for a foreign military responsible for war crimes and genocide.
Walter Thomas Beckett