Canadian PM Harper: ‘As long as I’m Prime Minister, this government will remain very supportive’ of Israel

EJPress:

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a ringing indictment of what he described as the West’s “softening support” for the Jewish State Thursday, as he insisted that “the worst possible thing we could do in the long term for any of our governments is to be anything less than fully supportive of Israel”.

Addressing a question and answer session with members of US think tank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York, he acknowledged Canada’s unwavering support for close ally Israel, as he paid tribute to “the one strong, stable, democratic, Western ally that we have in this part of the world”, before vowing: “As long as I’m prime minister, this government will remain very supportive, you know, and of that country in what is a very challenging neighbourhood.

An Open Letter to the Toronto Board of Rabbis, Regarding Pamela Geller

Toronto Board of Rabbis
4600 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2R 3V3

Dear Rabbis,

I join many others in expressing my profound disappointment and deep sense of sadness at your, at best, misguided, but far more likely, misinformed, repugnant statement regarding Pamela Geller’s speaking engagement here in Toronto, which I attended. For an illustrious group, as you portray yourselves to be, you have committed the unforgivable sin of speaking lashen hora of an individual you neither know nor care to know. You accuse Ms. Geller of being known for her “extreme criticism of Muslims in language that is intended to shock and ridicule” but you offer NO examples of her words to support your claim. You claim, with certainty, that the result of her speaking engagement will be “increasing tensions within the Jewish community and between Jews and Muslims in Toronto.”  For rabbinic clergy to even level such a charge against Ms. Geller is beyond the pale – with your words you have given credibility and legitimacy to all those who hate us, including the Muslim Brotherhood. You might be proud but, many of us whom you purport to represent, are ashamed of what you have said. You might find Ms. Geller’s words “distasteful” but I find your words, accusations and actions despicable.
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‘Successes and Failures of the BDS Campaign’

Adam Shay of the American Center for Democracy:

A concerted and well-organized campaign calling for “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” (BDS) against the State of Israel has been in effect for several years now. The aim of this boycott is to inflict tactical damage to a wide variety of academic, commercial, and cultural interests, as well as strategic damage to Israel by way of constant erosion of its national and international legitimacy.

While the movement’s self-defined operations include boycott, divestment, and sanctions, this definition is not an accurate one, since divestment is itself a form of economic boycott and sanctions are an action reserved solely for countries. The title BDS should therefore be regarded as a brand-name rather than a description of the movement’s activity.

In spite of its constant use of belligerent, violent, and deceitful tactics, the BDS movement has very little to show in the way of success regarding sanctions or divestment.

The cultural boycott, however, has proven the most efficient and effective channel for this campaign, due to several unique characteristics discussed below.

There has been very little success in the way of divestment, although the movement claims to have brought about several such acts. There is no shortage of examples of the movement claiming responsibility for such acts despite the fact that they never actually took place, as well as several so-called acts of divestment that had nothing much to do with pressure exerted by the movement or with political considerations, but were rather the result of simple financial considerations.

Jewish Tribune: Pamela Geller vs Toronto Board of Rabbis

Joanne Hill reports:

In a press release, the TBR said it considered Geller’s views “distasteful” and expressed “profound disappointment that a local Jewish organization” [the Jewish Defense League of Canada] had invited her to speak here. It described Geller as “a blogger who is known for her extreme criticism of Muslims in language that is intended to shock and ridicule.”

Geller was unaware of the TBR statement until the Jewish Tribune brought it to her attention. The TBR said it is “a strong supporter of freedom of speech for all, including Ms. Geller. Ms. Geller’s voice and message are already well known here in Canada and beyond. There was no sense in inviting her here to speak before a Jewish audience.”

The 400 people who purchased tickets, and the numerous people who were turned away at the door, may beg to differ. The main room where Geller spoke was standing room only and another room was filled with people who paid to watch her on a screen.

The audience reacted audibly with shocked gasps and exclamations when Geller announced, “Today the Toronto Board of Rabbis came out with a statement condemning me.”  (…)

Although the Toronto Police Service (TPS) had not received any complaints about Geller’s appearance, members of its hate crimes unit were in the audience monitoring what was said.

Pamela Geller’s Toronto speech a huge success (video)

Thanks on behalf of all of us at the Jewish Defence League of Canada, to everyone who worked so hard to make Pamela Geller’s speech at the Toronto Zionist Center such a success.

A special note of appreciation to the tireless dedication of all the volunteers.

The venue was sold out, so an overflow crowd enjoyed a live simulcast in an upper room. There were no protesters inside or out.

At her blog Atlas Shrugs, Pamela Geller wrote:

Every room at the Toronto Zionist Centre was standing room only, and there was electricity in the air. Fantastic. I stand in awe of unbowed Canadians. They have the courage of their convictions.

Pamela Geller’s speech was outstanding:

Pamela Geller interviewed by Times of Israel

Geller tells the Times:

Considering that the ADL has recently attacked Israel for forbidding Eurovision contestants from wearing designs by the anti-Semitic, pro-Hitler designer John Galliano [Galliano infamously launched into anti-Semitic tirades in 2011, then apologized for them, an apology that was ‘welcomed’ and accepted by the ADL – HG], and has attacked Joan Rivers and Seth MacFarlane as well as me instead of doing what it should be doing — defending Jews and Israel — it is hard for me to take their criticism seriously.

The ADL is more like the Defamation League. ADL was successfully sued for $10.5 million for defaming a Colorado couple accused of bigotry… They smear and run. If I weren’t a “public persona,” I would sue, too. The ADL is more dangerous to the Jews than her avowed enemies, because they appear to be on our side — and yet undermine the staunchest and fiercest Zionists. The enemies of freedom use the compromised Jews of the ADL to defame and destroy a Jew who is truly standing up for Israel and for the principles of freedom and human rights that the Jewish State represents. It’s inexcusable. It’s time the ADL went after the real enemies of Israel and stop getting their talking points from Muslim Brotherhood groups in America.

Ezra Levant: ‘Guest speakers at synagogues now have to register their opinions in advance with the police’

Ezra Levant on the shakedown of Pamela Geller:

Veerappan was happy to tell QMI Agency: “Some of the stuff that Ms. Geller speaks about runs contrary to the values of York Regional Police and the work we do in engaging our communities.”

Really? Like what — offering a proper burial for girls killed in honour killings? Standing up for women’s rights, against shariah law? Warning against terrorism?

But even if her values were “wrong,” what business is that of a cop? Do guest speakers at synagogues now have to register their opinions in advance with the police?

 

Pamela Geller writes about Canadian police attempts to silence her, and the ADL connection

Pamela Geller:

And [the York Region police in Canada] acted on smears from the ADL. The Police Department had concerns about the event because an Islamic supremacist group had complained to them, citing some of the smears and libels that are circulating about me on the Internet, including the Anti-Defamation League’s denunciation of me.

The capacity for humiliating, destructive behavior from the ADL’s Abraham Foxman (and those Jews who fund the ADL) continues to astound and repel proud Jews across the world. This is the same ADL that has condemned Jews including Joan Rivers, Seth MacFarlane, and Israel itself.

The ADL is more dangerous to the Jews than her avowed enemies, because they appear to be on our side — and yet undermine the staunchest and fiercest Zionists. The enemies of freedom use the compromised Jews of the AFL to defame and destroy a Jew who is truly standing up for Israel and for the principles of freedom and human rights that the Jewish State represents. It’s inexcusable.

Brian Lilley: ‘Beware of police diversity units that threaten rabbis’

Brian Lilley of Sun News:

“Some of the stuff that Ms. Geller speaks about runs contrary to the values of York Regional Police and the work we do in engaging our communities,” Veerappan told QMI Agency.

Quite frankly inspector, you offend me but you are still in your job.Police are supposed to enforce laws, not enforce unwritten and vague “values” of the community.