Parliament joins Knesset to criminalize dissent

by Amelia Murphy-Beaudoin

A multi-party coalition of current and past parliamentarians—the so-called Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism (CPCCA)—is trying to conflate legitimate criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism.

The CPCCA held eight hearings in 2010 during which it handpicked witnesses who would further its agenda. The hearings were blatantly biased as individuals and groups whose submissions were critical of Israel were excluded.

Earlier this year, the Palestine Freedom of Expression campaign (PFEX) released a report including voices excluded by the CPCCA: The CPCCA’s Hidden Message: Silencing Criticism of Israeli Apartheid.

The CPCCA report tries to argue that anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise in Canada, citing events on university campuses such as Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW). The report makes several non-binding recommendations, including that police be trained to intervene in Palestine solidarity events.

The Canadian government has continually demonstrated uncritical support for Israel’s apartheid policies. Harper stated that Canada will boycott the Durban III UN world conference against racism in September. During the war on Gaza, the Harper government attempted to smear solidarity demonstrators as anti-Semites. British MP George Galloway was banned from Canada for delivering aid to Gazans. Canada denounced the UN Goldstone Report that revealed war crimes committed during the war.

The CPCCA is using Parliament to criminalize legitimate criticism of Israel, a blow against civil liberties in Canada. These actions mirror Israel’s move to criminalize boycotts and dissent against Israel. The Israeli Knesset passed an anti-BDS bill in July by a majority of 47 to 38.

As Roi Maor of 972mag.com reports, “If a person…calls for a boycott of academic institutions that participate in the occupation, he could be sued in civil court, and ordered to pay compensation. If a company agrees not to purchase products manufactured in the settlements, it could be barred from government contracts. If an NGO joins the global BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) call, it could be stripped of its non-profit status, and compelled to pay taxes as if it was a commercial firm.”

Adalah (a legal rights centre for Palestinians in Israel) and the Association for Civil Rights Israel (ACRI) announced they would petition the Supreme Court to strike down the bill.

Israel’s increasingly repressive, desperate actions and Canada’s similar attempts to criminalize free speech speak to the growing global Palestine solidarity movement, including the BDS campaign against Israel. In addition, a growing number of Jewish organizations are challenging Israel’s occupation and impunity, a sign that Israel is losing the battle for hearts and minds.