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Canadian PM Harper: Criticizing Israel is anti-Semitic

Jan 20, 2014 8:35 pm By Robert Spencer

For years we have seen ugly anti-Semitism masquerading as “anti-Zionism.” It is astonishing to find a major politician in this debased age who has the courage to call it what it is. “In historic speech, Harper argues criticizing Israel is anti-Semitic,” by David Akin for Sun News, January 20 (thanks to Pamela Geller):

JERUSALEM — In a historic speech to the Knesset here, Prime Minister Stephen Harper provided his clearest rationale yet for his decision to be Israel’s strongest friend on the global stage and went so far as to argue that criticism of the state of Israel amounts anti-Semitism.

Harper became the first Canadian prime minister to address the Israeli legislature. The chamber was filled with MKs — members of the Knesset — and the galleries were filled as well with more than 200 members of the prime minister’s official Canadian delegation.

In the speech, Harper explained why Canada supports Israel and, in doing so, made an argument for why other Western democracies ought to do the same.

“Because, after generations of persecution, the Jewish people deserve their own homeland and deserve to live safely and peacefully in that homeland,” according to a copy of the speech provided to journalists beforehand.

“Canada supports Israel because it is right to do so. This is a very Canadian trait, to do something for no reason other than it is right even when no immediate reward for, or threat to, ourselves is evident.”

Harper said Canada has a long history of supporting democracy, human rights, freedom and the rule of law.

“It is, thus, a Canadian tradition to stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is convenient or popular.”

If Canadians accept that principle, Harper argued, then Canada must stand for Israel, the only country in this part of the world that shares Canada’s values.

“Either we stand up for our values and our interests, here, in Israel — stand up for the existence of a free, democratic and distinctively Jewish state — or the retreat of our values and our interests in the world will begin.”

Harper then said Canada’s support for Israel translates into action in three ways.

“Our view on Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is absolute and nonnegotiable,” Harper said, listing the first principle.

Second, Harper said Canada will fight for Israel “to enjoy the full measure of its sovereignty” at the United Nations. Currently, Israel is excluded from many regional councils and, by extension, cannot be a member of bodies, such as the Security Council, which reserves seats for representatives from various regional bodies.

Finally, he said his support for Israel means Canada will refuse to single out Israel for criticism on the international stage.

“It is all too easy ‘to go along to get along’ and single out Israel,” Harper said.

Others who do that, Harper said, end up on a slippery slope of moral relativism.

“And in the garden of such moral relativism, the seeds of much more sinister notions can be easily planted. And so we have witnessed, in recent years, the mutation of the old disease of anti-Semitism and the emergence of a new strain,” Harper said.

Harper said this new anti-Semitism disguises itself in language that pretends to be “sophisticated” or as “intellectualized arguments against Israeli policies.”

He said “this is the face of the new anti-Semitism.”

Finally, he argued that criticism of the state of Israel is itself anti-Semitic and therefore hateful.

“What else can we call criticism that selectively condemns only the Jewish state and effectively denies its right to defend itself while systematically ignoring — or excusing — the violence and oppression all around it? What else can we call it when, Israel is routinely targeted at the United Nations and when Israel remains the only country to be the subject of a permanent agenda item at the regular sessions of its Human Rights Council?”

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Comments

  1. Tayloch says

    Jan 20, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    After watching the entire speech, I can only conclude with: “Wow!”

    PM Harper’s statements confirm, without doubt, that Canada is the only true friend of Israel.

    That idiot in the WH and the other idiot at Foggy Bottom just got “schooled” on how to be a true statesman, leader, and moral compass.

  2. Chris says

    Jan 20, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    I totally agree with what the PM says, except for the absurd statement that criticizing Israel is equal to Anti-Semitism. How is it that Israel is elevated to a position that is above criticism? It is this same line of thinking that creates the ridiculous position that even legitimate criticism of Islam makes one, as Mr. Spencer says, ” A greasy Islamophobe.” Although Mr. Spencer is much maligned, falsely, as an Islamophobe. He shows that he can also falsely accuse others of sins that they have not committed. A couple weeks ago, Mr. Spencer posted an article claiming that Pat Buchanan was an Anti-Semite. It is his blind admiration of Israel, much like the PM of Canada, that will not allow us even to question Israel on any topic. Israel, like our own great nation, is not above criticism, nor should it be.

  3. Rob says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 1:38 am

    Hey peanut. If criticism of islam is phobic, it follows the same is true of Israel.

  4. icefront says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 3:21 am

    I don’t know if your trolling is intentional or not, but here it goes. For some reason you quoted Mr Harper out of context. As he clearly stated, he considered it’s to be a new kind of antisemitism to signal out Israel only as the constant target of criticism while systematically ignoring any other major and usually much more significant ckntributors of said topic. He never said Israel is above criticism, as the bigger part of your comment claims.

  5. nood2 says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 3:42 am

    What you fail to understand is, criticism for the sake of criticism of Israel is in fact anti-Semitic.
    The same goes for making false claims like, apartheid, deportation, ethnic cleansing etc. that are in fact totally false, is blatant anti-Semitism.
    You saw democracy at it’s best in this video, when 2 MK’s voiced their opinions, rather rudely as is the Islamic way (we disagree so, let’s have a temper tantrum), were not accosted in any way. A citizen in a democracy has full rights to voice his opinion, even if it is contrary to yours.
    I would like to see what happens to someone who shouts out in the middle of the US President’s State of the Nation speech?
    Even in that vilified State of Israel, the minorities enjoy full rights as any Israeli, and Harper recognized this phenomena exists only in Israel in the Middle East

  6. dumbledoresarmy says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 6:15 am

    Addressing all Canadian non-Muslim posters and lurkers – CONGRATULATIONS. I don’t think he has, even now, got the *full* picture, but he’s getting there. Email him, phone him, tell him you support him, tell him you support the right of the Jewish state of Israel to defend itself against genocidal Islamic Jihad. If you’re one of his constituents, visit him in person.
    And if you are not Jewish, and if you are not Christian – if you are, for example, secular or Hindu Canadian, and you support Israel because you recognise the perfectly rational fact that the Jews are a Middle Eastern ethnie who have a right to exist in their ancestral homeland, part of which they have gotten back out of the clutches of the Arab Muslim imperialists, and also because you recognise that the war the Muslims are waging on the Jews is the same war they are waging on the rest of the entire Infidel world, then be sure you mention it. Because if PM Harper gets a whole slew of letters that say, for example, “I am a Hindu Canadian and I support the right of Israel to defend herself against the Jihad”, this will give him something to throw in the faces of those who like to pretend that it is only bible-bashing evangelical Christians who recognise and support Israel.
    As for the rest of us, all of us who aren’t Canadians – and this is especially pertinent, perhaps, for UK citizens, and Australians, and other denizens of the Commonwealth – how’s about we, too, especially the non-Jews amongst us, write letters to Canada’s diplomatic representative in our countries, commending the Canadian PM’s moral stand in support of the jihad-beleaguered Jewish state?

  7. Regards from Finland says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 6:26 am

    It’s a very affecting speech. I’m amazed how bravely and honestly Canada goes against the global “school” bullying of Israel.

  8. Some propechies says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 6:43 am

    We have read about the propechies of the persecution of Israel and how it will continue until the last days (youtube.com/watch?v=NpnOAdlnFiY). We have also read that God has promised to bless all the nations who bless Israel!

  9. ApolloSpeaks says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 6:52 am

    ISRAEL IS A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS

    of the Middle East and beyond and those who criticize her mostly do so from the darkness of bigotry and murderous hate.

  10. No1 says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 6:56 am

    The title of this piece is inaccurate since Harper never once said that all criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, merely that the obsessive focus on Israel, the insistence that Israel is to blame for the troubles of the Middle East, the accusations of apartheid and the continued denial of Israel’s legitimacy are manifestations of anti-Semitism, and yes, they are. Harper outright says that all States should be subject to criticism and Israel itself should be included.

    This is a remarkable speech. I’ve never seen a world leader deliver this virtually unequivocal support of Israel in everything that I’ve read. Canadian-Israeli relations are not the subject of frequent analysis, so it surprises me that their policy is so positive.

    I’d also like to draw attention to the fact that my own country of Australia has been similarly supportive of Israel, especially since the change of government. In these days of pathological UN fanaticism and EU obsession, it’s good to see that Israel has other friends in the Anglo-sphere besides the USA.

  11. Tom says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 7:05 am

    Criticising Israel is not anti-semitic. Singling out Israel, demonising Israel out of all proportion to reality and spreading Islamic supremacist / leftist propaganda against Israel (ie Apartheid) is!

  12. Abdullah ibn Salam says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 7:55 am

    There should only be Palestine, with Jews living there as Dhimmis! Is it so hard to understand the Peace Plan!

    The Jews already have their New Jerusalem in USA – it’s called New York. This is where they greedy hands count money of the world. They have names like Goldman, Goldberg, Goldstein …

  13. Regards from Finland says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 10:17 am

    Can you say why muslims have so great Judeo-Christian-phobia (among other phobias)? Is it because Jesus Christ was a jew and his example and teachings which started Christianity gets Muhammed looking so shameful? Who would like to hang in that deadly tradition when there is the new good life being offered for free?

  14. Kepha says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Well, as far as refusing to single out Israel for criticism, I can only say that once again Stephen Harper makes me proud to be an English-speaking North American. I trust the PA about as far as I can throw my house.

    However, even if I am pro-Israel, I’m not so sure that I’d equate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

  15. Jan says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 11:37 am

    ”As for the rest of us, all of us who aren’t Canadians – and this is especially pertinent, perhaps, for UK citizens, and Australians, and other denizens of the Commonwealth – how’s about we, too, especially the non-Jews amongst us, write letters to Canada’s diplomatic representative in our countries, commending the Canadian PM’s moral stand in support of the jihad-beleaguered Jewish state?”

    Agreed, dda, and I’ve already done so. I admire Mr Harper immensely, for his integrity, and moral bravery. Would that the UK had a leader of his moral fibre !

  16. Steve B says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 12:39 pm

    Actually if you read the entire speech, Prime Minister Harper does NOT absolve Israel of criticism. He clearly states, “Ladies and Gentlemen, support – even firm support – doesn’t mean that allies and friends will agree on all issues all of the time. No state is beyond legitimate questioning or criticism.” The PM also stated, “Of course, criticism of Israeli government policy is not in and of itself necessarily anti-Semitic.” But said that much of the criticism in singling out Israel as the sole source of confict in the Middle East is anti-semitic in nature. This cannot be denied.

  17. gravenimage says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 5:12 pm

    Canadian PM Harper: Criticizing Israel is anti-Semitic
    ……………………………………….

    As others have already noted, Harper did not quite say this. Of course Israel may be criticized.

    But he is quite right—often criticism of Israel is nothing more than thinly-veiled antisemitism.

    And that democratic Israel is so excoriated, while the appalling Islamic states that make up her “neighbors” are often ignored or receive far more nuanced treatment, is clear madness.

    That the United Nations has passed motion after motion condemning tiny Israel—far more than genocidal Shari’ah states, is more madness.

    More:

    For years we have seen ugly anti-Semitism masquerading as “anti-Zionism.” It is astonishing to find a major politician in this debased age who has the courage to call it what it is.
    ……………………………………….

    It is indeed. Kudos, stephen Harper!

    More:

    JERUSALEM — In a historic speech to the Knesset here…
    ……………………………………….

    Just his addressing the Knesset is impressive. How many Western leaders have done the same?

    More:

    In the speech, Harper explained why Canada supports Israel and, in doing so, made an argument for why other Western democracies ought to do the same.
    ……………………………………….

    This used to be the role of the United States—I’m glad Canada has. And I hope re resume that role *alongside* Canada as soon as Obama is out of the White House.

    More:

    “Canada supports Israel because it is right to do so.
    ……………………………………….

    Bravo!

    Harper said Canada has a long history of supporting democracy, human rights, freedom and the rule of law.

    “It is, thus, a Canadian tradition to stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is convenient or popular.”

    If Canadians accept that principle, Harper argued, then Canada must stand for Israel, the only country in this part of the world that shares Canada’s values.

    “Either we stand up for our values and our interests, here, in Israel — stand up for the existence of a free, democratic and distinctively Jewish state — or the retreat of our values and our interests in the world will begin.”
    ……………………………………….

    Bravo!

  18. gravenimage says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 6:27 pm

    The repulsive Abdullah ibn Salam wrote:

    There should only be Palestine, with Jews living there as Dhimmis! Is it so hard to understand the Peace Plan!
    …………………………………………

    There’s never been a “Palestine”—but pious Muslims do indeed seek a return to their enslavement of Jews.

    The idea that Jews live in Israel free of Muslim coercion drives Mohammedans absolutely mad.

    And Dhimmis is how they treat *all* Infidels wherever they have the chance.

    More:

    The Jews already have their New Jerusalem in USA – it’s called New York. This is where they greedy hands count money of the world. They have names like Goldman, Goldberg, Goldstein …
    …………………………………………

    What an antisemitic tool. This is the usual—the claim that Jews have no historic ties to the Levant. This is utterly false.

    And it came as no surprise that his savage coreligionists targeted New York City. New York is a vibrant, creative city—Jewish *and* Gentile—quite unlike the stagnant cesspools of Dar-al-Islam.

  19. Santos2 says

    Jan 21, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    The grown child (Canada) shows the parent, (Britain) what it is to have a moral centre. (notice the spelling of centre, I’m Canadian 🙂 )

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