A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Larry Finkelman

It is indeed surprising to hear that Fredericton Palestine Solidarity stands staunchly against antisemitism (The Daily Gleaner February 10, 2024). Weren’t they the ones that didn’t condemn Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7? Weren’t they the ones standing silently watching the sexual atrocities perpetrated against Jewish women? Weren’t they the ones supporting Hamas, the terrorist entity that has in its 1988 charter, antisemitic ideology with the goal of annihilating Jews not only in Israel, but around the world? Weren’t they the ones chanting ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, which Jewish ears hear as a call for genocide, much like Hitler’s desire to make Germany Judenrein, free of Jews?  Forgive my cynicism, but their support is hardly reassuring. It’s like a wolf masquerading in sheep’s clothing.

In his letter to the editor, Angus Fletcher states that antisemitism has been used as a weapon to silence legitimate criticism of Israel. I don’t believe it has. As a member of the Jewish community in Fredericton, I am concerned not only by the rising rate of antisemitism, but also in preserving our ability in a democracy to be critical. But where is the line between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism?  Natan Sharansky, the Soviet era human rights activist, identified this line by three criteria. If a cartoon or comment denies or delegitimizes Israel’s right to exist, it is antisemitic. If it demonizes Israel, by for example, calling it a cancer, it is antisemitic. Or if it creates a double standard, where Israel is judged by one standard, while other countries are judged by another, it is antisemitic. At a pro-Palestinian rally in Fredericton in 2021, protesters were chanting in Arabic, ‘One Holocaust was not enough’ and ‘Death to all Jews’. When members of our community stood at the edge of the rally and waved a small Israeli flag, they were spit upon. This is not free speech but hate speech and should be condemned as antisemitic.

Angus Fletcher also supports the claim that Israel is genocidal. The definition of genocide adopted by the UN in 1948 in response to the Holocaust, refers to a crime committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Israel has never had that intent. For the last 100 years they have made numerous peace proposals to the Palestinian leadership, all of which were rejected. The British and the UN each proposed a plan for a Palestinian state, which were again rejected. And since then, four Israeli Prime Ministers have made separate peace proposals. All were rejected. The Palestinian leadership has never recognized Israel’s right to exist. Jews have lived there for over 3000 years. It is the Jewish ancestral homeland. Hamas and the Palestinian leadership do not want to have a state living in peace beside Israel. They want a Palestinian state instead of Israel. This matches the above definition of genocide. Accusing Israel of genocide is a reversal of reality.

Angus Fletcher is also critical of our government for not admitting more Palestinians. In recent days, the news has highlighted the indoctrination for hate that has been present in schools in Gaza for generations. Other studies have documented the antisemitism taught in Palestinian schools. Students there are not being educated for peace, but for war and martyrdom. Canada needs immigrants and has done well in cultivating a culture of diversity and tolerance. We need immigrants who embrace those values. We need immigrants who have the desire to discuss differences with mutual respect and civility. We need immigrants who value acceptance of other cultures and religions. I think the Government of Canada is wise to be cautious in admitting immigrants from Gaza.