[rad-green] Montreal city councillor withdraws motion defining anti-Semitism amid criticism

*https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/montreal-city-councillor-withdraws-motion-defining-anti-semitism-amid-criticism
<https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/montreal-city-councillor-withdraws-motion-defining-anti-semitism-amid-criticism>*

*National Post          January 28, 2020*

*Montreal city councillor withdraws motion defining anti-Semitism amid
criticism*

MONTREAL — A Montreal city councillor has withdrawn a motion to have the
city adopt an international organization’s definition of anti-Semitism.

Lionel Perez withdrew the motion endorsing the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance’s definition after it failed to gain support from
Mayor Valerie Plante.

The IHRA definition has been adopted by over 30 countries including Canada,
however critics say its wording is problematic because it connects
criticism of the Israeli state with anti-Semitism.

While the international organization defines anti-Semitism in part as “a
certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred,” critics take
aim at a list of examples that includes “denying Jewish people their right
to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of
Israel is a racist endeavour.”

Corey Balsam of the group Independent Jewish Voices Canada says adopting
the definition would put a “major chill” on those speaking out in favour of
equality for the Palestinians, while failing to tackle more serious threats
to Jewish communities, including the rise of the far right.

Perez said he’s disappointed the city missed an opportunity to take a firm
stand against anti-Semitism.

Plante acknowledged the need to fight anti-Semitism but suggested a
committee instead work to come up with its own definition — something Perez
dismissed as “ludicrous.”

Canadian Press

-- 

--- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sid-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sid-l/CACKppcxh9AAcYY%3DV2nUYCfJ7f2NXFrcOmTn5qn%3DeRrJ%3DZPMW%2BQ%40mail.gmail.com.

---
To unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]>
List help: <https://riseup.net/lists>