CCD press release: Should the University of Toronto host "Israeli Apartheid Week"?
CCD press release: Should the University of Toronto host "Israeli Apartheid Week"?
The Canadian Coalition for Democracies, CCD, has issued the following statement, most appropriate for the anniversary of the 1942 Wannsee Conference:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 19, 2005, Toronto ON -- The Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Studies (IWSGS) at the University of Toronto recently announced on its email distribution service an “Israeli Apartheid Week” on campus starting January 31 (announcement below). Speakers will represent the Arab Students Collective, International Solidarity Movement, Political Prisoners Working Group, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, the Palestinian Right of Return Group, and others.
"Those who fund universities, including taxpayers and private donors, generally expect their hard earned dollars will support open debate on major issues," said Alastair Gordon, VP Communications for the Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD). "The title of this conference appears to be a conclusion, not a call for debate, and the roster of speakers is almost laughably one-sided."
The branding of Israel as an apartheid state is the latest attempt to de-legitimize Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. Wars, terrorism, UN resolutions, media condemnation and academic boycotts have all failed to destroy this tiny state. Now, those who seek Israel’s destruction are attempting to identify Israel as the next South Africa, an apartheid state to be brought down through economic sanctions.
The problem with this campaign is that Israel is not apartheid. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Arabs, Christians and Jews can vote for their representatives in free and open elections with a real choice of candidates. Arabs are full members of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and sit as judges in the Israeli judiciary, including Abdel Rahman Zuabi who is a permanent member of the Israeli Supreme Court. Abdulmalik Dehamshe, an Arab representative, sits on the State Control Committee and was the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. Both Israeli Arabs and Palestinians regularly bring cases to the Israeli Supreme Court. Ironically, Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where women enjoy full and equal rights, the stated mandate of IWSGS.
"One has to ask why the University of Toronto is hosting an anti-apartheid forum that vilifies a demonstrably non-apartheid state and ignores the apartheid of dhimmitude practiced in many Muslim countries," added Gordon. "Egypt, for example, practices religious apartheid, denying rights and imposing additional taxes and obligations on non-Muslims, especially Coptic Christians. This allocation of rights and obligations based on race or religion is apartheid, pure and simple.
"Is the University of Toronto hosting a free and scholarly exchange of ideas, or a racist rally masquerading as an academic conference?"
Donors to the University of Toronto and other interested parties may express their opinions of hosting such an event on campus by contacting the University of Toronto Governing Council.
University of Toronto Governing Council
Website http://www.utoronto.ca/govcncl/
Email governing.council@utoronto.ca
Note: See the CCD link given above to read the programme and participants of the anti-Israel calumny.
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at January 20, 2005 10:06 AM
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1.
Buck
said:
Not sure if we can confirm this is true. Nothing about it on the Canadian Coalition for Democracies website, or The Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Studies website.
Posted by: Buck on January 20, 2005 11:46 AM
2.
Paul
said:
url for article posted on canadian coalition website:
http://canadiancoalition.org/forum/messages/4941.shtml
Posted by: Paul on January 20, 2005 12:51 PM
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CCD press release: Should the University of Toronto host "Israeli Apartheid Week"?
The Canadian Coalition for Democracies, CCD, has issued the following statement, most appropriate for the anniversary of the 1942 Wannsee Conference:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 19, 2005, Toronto ON -- The Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Studies (IWSGS) at the University of Toronto recently announced on its email distribution service an “Israeli Apartheid Week” on campus starting January 31 (announcement below). Speakers will represent the Arab Students Collective, International Solidarity Movement, Political Prisoners Working Group, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, the Palestinian Right of Return Group, and others.
"Those who fund universities, including taxpayers and private donors, generally expect their hard earned dollars will support open debate on major issues," said Alastair Gordon, VP Communications for the Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD). "The title of this conference appears to be a conclusion, not a call for debate, and the roster of speakers is almost laughably one-sided."
The branding of Israel as an apartheid state is the latest attempt to de-legitimize Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. Wars, terrorism, UN resolutions, media condemnation and academic boycotts have all failed to destroy this tiny state. Now, those who seek Israel’s destruction are attempting to identify Israel as the next South Africa, an apartheid state to be brought down through economic sanctions.
The problem with this campaign is that Israel is not apartheid. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Arabs, Christians and Jews can vote for their representatives in free and open elections with a real choice of candidates. Arabs are full members of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) and sit as judges in the Israeli judiciary, including Abdel Rahman Zuabi who is a permanent member of the Israeli Supreme Court. Abdulmalik Dehamshe, an Arab representative, sits on the State Control Committee and was the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. Both Israeli Arabs and Palestinians regularly bring cases to the Israeli Supreme Court. Ironically, Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where women enjoy full and equal rights, the stated mandate of IWSGS.
"One has to ask why the University of Toronto is hosting an anti-apartheid forum that vilifies a demonstrably non-apartheid state and ignores the apartheid of dhimmitude practiced in many Muslim countries," added Gordon. "Egypt, for example, practices religious apartheid, denying rights and imposing additional taxes and obligations on non-Muslims, especially Coptic Christians. This allocation of rights and obligations based on race or religion is apartheid, pure and simple.
"Is the University of Toronto hosting a free and scholarly exchange of ideas, or a racist rally masquerading as an academic conference?"
Donors to the University of Toronto and other interested parties may express their opinions of hosting such an event on campus by contacting the University of Toronto Governing Council.
University of Toronto Governing Council
Website http://www.utoronto.ca/govcncl/
Email governing.council@utoronto.ca
Note: See the CCD link given above to read the programme and participants of the anti-Israel calumny.
Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at January 20, 2005 10:06 AM