———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Alan Sears
Date: Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Subject: Palestine Solidarity and Israel Apartheid Week
Hi Everyone
I just wanted to keep folks informed of the latest developments in Palestine Solidarity. At Carleton University, the administration has banned the Israeli Apartheid Week poster and the Provost sent out an e-mail to all faculty and students that, among other things, talked about the threat of human rights violations and threatened discipline including expulsions.
At the same time, two Jewish right-wing organizations (Bnai Brith and Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre) have published ads and released statements stating that Israel Apartheid Week is anti-semitic and equating anti-zionism and anti-semitism. Within the last two days, Tory Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Liberal MP Irwin Cotler have released statements that equate anti-zionism and anti-semitism. (Cotler is the most high-falutin, referring to Israel as the “collective Jew” and attacks on Israel as attacks on all Jews).
A fightback is being organized. Faculty for Palestine just released its Open Letter with over 300 signatures, defending freedom of speech around Palestine on our campuses. We are working to get a number of organizations to make statements in support of freedom of speech around Palestine. We are also working on media fronts, and on trying to get something published that challenges the equation of anti-zionism and anti-semitism (more on this as it proceeds). See below for links to the open letter, and articles documenting attacks on freedom of expression around Palestine.
We are announcing an Action Alert – and will soon be getting back to people with specific calls to action. There has been some media in Ottawa (Ott CBC and the Ott Sun interviewed me today- but this should not be all about me..). Will keep you informed. I have attached a notice from CAIA as well. Let me know if you have any comments or questions
Solidarity
Alan
