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July 2, 2010
A communal response
Students and others look to help educate.
Pat JOHNSON
Pressure continued on Vancouver-East MP Libby Davies last week, when more than two dozen activists converged on her Main Street constituency office to deliver educational materials and register disappointment with the New Democrat’s recent comments.
Davies, the NDP’s national deputy leader, is in hot water over comments she made to a video-blogger earlier this month. In the video, Davies states that Israel has been occupying Palestinian lands since 1948, cites Israel as the barrier to peace, accuses Israel of taking away basic human rights from Hamas-governed Gazans and accuses those who disagree of a “new McCarthyism.”
The demonstration, which was organized by Hillel’s Israel Advocacy Club at Simon Fraser University and the Israel Awareness Club at the University of British Columbia, drew about 30 young protesters and honks of support from passing motorists.
Carrying signs stating “Israel wants peace,” the demonstrators chanted “Libby Davies, shame on you/Jews deserve a homeland too,” “’67, ’48/Learn your facts and keep them straight” and “Stop your anti-Israel attacks/Long enough to learn the facts.” Representatives delivered a package of materials to the MP’s office staff, including a DVD copy of the film The Case for Israel and a book titled Israel 101.
In the accompanying letter, signed by UBC Israel club president Rael Katz and SFU Israel club president Aaron Van Dyck, students invited Davies to review the material and then discuss it with them.
“We hope that the enclosed materials will educate you about the efforts Israel has taken for more than 60 years to live in peace with its neighbors. In response, Israel has received only war and terrorism,” the letter said. “You are a leading Canadian advocate for women’s equality, gay rights, free collective bargaining and human rights. We consider it plainly hypocritical that there is one country in the Middle East that reflects these values you claim to support in Canada, yet on the international stage, you condemn Israel in the harshest terms imaginable,” continued the letter.
The controversy, which has seen the prime minister call for Davies’ removal from her leadership position, began when David Katz posted online the controversial interview with Davies, which he obtained at a rally against Israel, where marchers chanted “Long live the intifada.”
“She made statements that could have been made by Hamas, Hezbollah or anybody else with no repercussions from that party whatsoever,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said last week. NDP leader Jack Layton condemned Davies’ comments, but refused to fire her as his deputy. Her co-deputy leader, Outremont MP Thomas Mulcair, also condemned Davies, as did Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae.
The demonstration, which took place on the afternoon of Friday, June 18, capped a week that began with a community meeting of about 200 at Schara Tzedeck Synagogue. The evening was hosted by Canada-Israel Committee-Pacific Region, in partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Vancouver Hillel, King David High School and Jewish National Fund. It featured Harvey Oberfeld, a retired journalist who served as BCTV’s Ottawa bureau chief. Oberfeld explained how media can get a narrative wrong, in part because of laziness, unprofessionalism or the blurring of lines between news and editorializing. He urged attendees to send letters to the media when they see poor reporting or examples of bias. Go over their heads, Oberfeld added, urging people who are appalled at the BBC’s questionable reporting to write to the prime minister of Great Britain, for example.
Oberfeld was followed by KDHS student Aaron Friedland and Hillel’s Katz, both of whom spoke about the actions they and their peers have taken in recent weeks.
Michael Elterman, chair of CIC-PR, provided those attending an overview of the myths and facts surrounding the Gaza flotilla incident and the blockade more broadly.
The same week, Congregation Har El hosted a community forum titled The Gaza Flotilla: Truth and Consequences at which Micky Goldwein, JNF shaliach, and Daniel Schloss of CIC-PR spoke. With around 50 people in attendance, Goldwein covered the basic facts about Israel’s relationship with Gaza, talking about the realities of life in Gaza and about what Israel’s responsibilities are towards the area, what Israel has done historically in Gaza and how Israel has gotten to the place in which it finds itself today.
Schloss spoke more directly about advocacy, including the importance of organizing at the grassroots level. He suggested that synagogues begin preparing their youth members for what they can expect on university campuses and to engage them in conversation about Israel. He also suggested that synagogues work to train their membership in grassroots advocacy work, including meeting with local politicians and writing letters to the editor.
Both speakers took written questions from the audience. Of the crowd that evening, Schloss said, “Of all of the Israel activism that I’ve seen ... this was the most nuanced crowd – supportive of Israel – and reflective.” A question from a student, Schloss said, was particularly reflective, asking what to do about feeling uncomfortable with unconditionally supporting Israel. The student wanted to know what resources were available to learn more about the conflict. The CIC website is a place to start.
Pat Johnson is, among other things, director of programs for Hillel in British Columbia.
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