Haroon Siddiqui: All's well in the kingdom of Canada
In the five years since it was established by some students at the University of Toronto, Israeli Apartheid Week has spread to 40 cities around the world, according to its organizers.
Dr. David Naylor, U of T president, famously called it "the worst week of a president's life." Administrators are bombarded with demands by pro- and anti-Israeli camps:
Ban the name; abolish the "hate-fest." It creates "a toxic environment" for Israel advocates, who are "intimidated" by "mobs" peddling anti-Semitism.
Uphold freedom of speech and assembly. Stand up to "pressure." Don't equate criticism of Israeli policies with anti-Semitism or use it as a club to kill off debate.
This year, Carleton and Ottawa universities banned a pre-event poster showing an Israeli helicopter firing a missile at a Palestinian child labelled Gaza.
At York University, a dispute over the student union's role in the strike by teaching assistants became a proxy battle over Israel, given the union's pro-Palestinian tilt.
On Monday, the U of T student paper, The Varsity, carried two columns: "Why Israel is not an apartheid state," by Jeremy Bluvol, and "Why Israel's actions constitute apartheid," by Ahmed Mahmoud.
The kickoff event was that night at Ryerson University. I counted 14 people waving Israeli flags. Two guys were having an argument, drawing no audience.
Inside a packed hall, the atmosphere was collegial, with the feel of a 1960s anti-Vietnam war rally. The audience was a mix of ethnicities and, more pleasantly, of all ages.
The MC, Golta Shahidi, a U of T student, laid down the rules: No heckling, no disruptions, no anti-Semitic or other racist remarks.
Author Naomi Klein said she was proud to be there "as a Jewish Canadian, to stand in firm solidarity" with the Palestinians.
Dr. David Naylor, U of T president, famously called it "the worst week of a president's life." Administrators are bombarded with demands by pro- and anti-Israeli camps:
Ban the name; abolish the "hate-fest." It creates "a toxic environment" for Israel advocates, who are "intimidated" by "mobs" peddling anti-Semitism.
Uphold freedom of speech and assembly. Stand up to "pressure." Don't equate criticism of Israeli policies with anti-Semitism or use it as a club to kill off debate.
This year, Carleton and Ottawa universities banned a pre-event poster showing an Israeli helicopter firing a missile at a Palestinian child labelled Gaza.
At York University, a dispute over the student union's role in the strike by teaching assistants became a proxy battle over Israel, given the union's pro-Palestinian tilt.
On Monday, the U of T student paper, The Varsity, carried two columns: "Why Israel is not an apartheid state," by Jeremy Bluvol, and "Why Israel's actions constitute apartheid," by Ahmed Mahmoud.
The kickoff event was that night at Ryerson University. I counted 14 people waving Israeli flags. Two guys were having an argument, drawing no audience.
Inside a packed hall, the atmosphere was collegial, with the feel of a 1960s anti-Vietnam war rally. The audience was a mix of ethnicities and, more pleasantly, of all ages.
The MC, Golta Shahidi, a U of T student, laid down the rules: No heckling, no disruptions, no anti-Semitic or other racist remarks.
Author Naomi Klein said she was proud to be there "as a Jewish Canadian, to stand in firm solidarity" with the Palestinians.
posted by temporal at 3/09/2009
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