Déclaration du chef
libéral Michael Ignatieff sur la semaine contre l’apartheid
israélienPour diffusion immédiate
Le 1er mars 2010
Déclaration du chef libéral Michael Ignatieff sur la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien
OTTAWA – Le chef libéral Michael Ignatieff a fait la déclaration suivante aujourd’hui :
Cette semaine, dans tous les campus universitaires du pays, la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien visera encore une fois à
diaboliser et à remettre en doute la légitimité de l’État d’Israël. Cette initiative fait partie d’une campagne mondiale d’appel
au désinvestissement, au boycott et à la proclamation, et elle devrait être condamnée d’une manière absolue et sans équivoque.
En droit international, l'apartheid est qualifié de crime contre l'humanité. La semaine contre l’apartheid israélien est une
tentative délibérée de présenter l'État juif comme étant un État criminel.
Les activités prévues dans le cadre de cette semaine visent à isoler les étudiants juifs et israéliens. Le but est que ceux-ci se
sentent frappés d’ostracisme, voire physiquement menacés là même où la liberté devrait être primordiale,
c’est-à-dire sur un campus universitaire.
Soyons clairs : il est légitime de critiquer les politiques du gouvernement israélien. En revanche, condamner en bloc l'État d'Israël
et le peuple juif ne l’est pas et ne le sera jamais.
L’idée même de la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien va à l'encontre de nos valeurs communes de respect mutuel et de tolérance,
sans distinction de nationalité, de race ou de croyance. C'est une tentative pour accroître les tensions au sein de nos communautés
en ce qui concerne le conflit au Moyen-Orient.
Au nom du Parti libéral du Canada et de notre groupe parlementaire, j’exhorte tous les Canadiens de se joindre à nous pour
condamner la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien, et rejeter toutes les formes d'antisémitisme, de racisme et d'intolérance,
au Canada et partout dans le monde.
Renseignements :
Service de presse
Cabinet du chef de l’Opposition
613-996-6740
System administered by LPC / Système admistré par le PLC
Liberal Party of Canada
81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 400
Ottawa, ON K1P 6M8
Note: Ignatieff's statement on Israeli Apartheid Week, is below my response.
Right Hon. Michael Ignatieff
Leader of the Opposition
Dear Sir
With respect, I am compelled to inform you that I am profoundly disappointed in your just released official
statement regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and for that matter, your ceaseless pandering to the pro-Israel lobby.
You seem intent on following in the footsteps of Stephen Harper, who in my view, is the worst prime minister this country has ever had.
Apart from demonstrating an apparent disrespect for hard won international humanitarian law, your comments do not
reflect reality on the ground in the region. Furthermore, they contribute nothing to bringing an end to
the Israel-Palestinian/Arab conflict, ill serve Canada's vital international interests in a world of new geo-political/economic
realities and for what should be obvious reasons, put Canadian Jews in an increasingly awkward postion.
As Bishop Desmond Tutu, who certainly knows apartheid when he sees it, has repeatedly declared, Israel is an "apartheid state."
In fact, he has described the plight of Palestinians as much worse than that of his people under apartheid in South Africa.
Israel's occupation, dispossession, brutalization, mass killing, judicial assassinations, collective punishment, imprisonment without
charge and segregation of Palestinians is well documented and known to the world. This was well reflected in a 2007 survey of global
opinion that revealed Israel has the least positive rating of any country evaluated. Indeed, at that time 56% of Canadians viewed
Israel negatively (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/for-israel-every-traveller-is-an-ambassador/article1479056/)
I remind you that this survey was taken two years before "Operation Cast Lead." Since that unjustifiable, barbaric, illegal and
unrelenting 22 day land, air and sea military assault against a defenceless people resulting in the slaughter of 1,400 Palestinians,
mainly non-combatants, including hundreds of women and children, Israel's image worldwide has deteriorated much, much further.
What angers me is that you are a learned and well travelled man. Surely, you know better. If you aspire to make a difference in
this world and our country, you should have the moral integrity and courage to do what is right by standing shoulder to shoulder
with the victims, not the victimizers. I have no doubt that it would best serve your political ambitions as well as the
interests of Canadians and all of humanity.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Gary Keenan
______________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
March 1, 2010
Statement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff regarding Israeli Apartheid Week
OTTAWA - Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement today:
“On university campuses across the country this week, Israeli Apartheid Week will once again attempt to
demonize and undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state. It is part of a global campaign of calls for divestment,
boycotts and proclamations, and it should be condemned unequivocally and absolutely.
Apartheid is defined, in international law, as a crime against humanity. Israeli Apartheid Week is a deliberate
attempt to portray the Jewish state as criminal.
The activities planned for the week will single out Jewish and Israeli students. They will be made to feel ostracized
and even physically threatened in the very place where freedom should be paramount -- on a university campus.
Let us be clear: criticism of Israeli government policy is legitimate. Wholesale condemnation of the State of Israel
and the Jewish people is not legitimate. Not now, not ever.
The very premise of Israeli Apartheid Week runs counter to our shared values of mutual respect and tolerance,
regardless of nationality, race or creed. It is an attempt to heighten the tensions in our communities around the tragic
conflict in the Middle East.
On behalf of the Liberal party of Canada and the Parliamentary caucus, I urge all Canadians to join with us in
condemning Israeli Apartheid Week, and to reject, in principle, all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance,
both within this country and around the world.”
-30-
Contact:
Press Office
Office of the Leader of the Opposition
613-996-6740
Le 1er mars 2010
Déclaration du chef libéral Michael Ignatieff sur la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien
OTTAWA – Le chef libéral Michael Ignatieff a fait la déclaration suivante aujourd’hui :
Cette semaine, dans tous les campus universitaires du pays, la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien visera encore une fois à
diaboliser et à remettre en doute la légitimité de l’État d’Israël. Cette initiative fait partie d’une campagne mondiale d’appel
au désinvestissement, au boycott et à la proclamation, et elle devrait être condamnée d’une manière absolue et sans équivoque.
En droit international, l'apartheid est qualifié de crime contre l'humanité. La semaine contre l’apartheid israélien est une
tentative délibérée de présenter l'État juif comme étant un État criminel.
Les activités prévues dans le cadre de cette semaine visent à isoler les étudiants juifs et israéliens. Le but est que ceux-ci se
sentent frappés d’ostracisme, voire physiquement menacés là même où la liberté devrait être primordiale,
c’est-à-dire sur un campus universitaire.
Soyons clairs : il est légitime de critiquer les politiques du gouvernement israélien. En revanche, condamner en bloc l'État d'Israël
et le peuple juif ne l’est pas et ne le sera jamais.
L’idée même de la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien va à l'encontre de nos valeurs communes de respect mutuel et de tolérance,
sans distinction de nationalité, de race ou de croyance. C'est une tentative pour accroître les tensions au sein de nos communautés
en ce qui concerne le conflit au Moyen-Orient.
Au nom du Parti libéral du Canada et de notre groupe parlementaire, j’exhorte tous les Canadiens de se joindre à nous pour
condamner la semaine contre l’apartheid israélien, et rejeter toutes les formes d'antisémitisme, de racisme et d'intolérance,
au Canada et partout dans le monde.
Renseignements :
Service de presse
Cabinet du chef de l’Opposition
613-996-6740
System administered by LPC / Système admistré par le PLC
Liberal Party of Canada
81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 400
Ottawa, ON K1P 6M8
Note: Ignatieff's statement on Israeli Apartheid Week, is below my response.
Right Hon. Michael Ignatieff
Leader of the Opposition
Dear Sir
With respect, I am compelled to inform you that I am profoundly disappointed in your just released official
statement regarding Israeli Apartheid Week and for that matter, your ceaseless pandering to the pro-Israel lobby.
You seem intent on following in the footsteps of Stephen Harper, who in my view, is the worst prime minister this country has ever had.
Apart from demonstrating an apparent disrespect for hard won international humanitarian law, your comments do not
reflect reality on the ground in the region. Furthermore, they contribute nothing to bringing an end to
the Israel-Palestinian/Arab conflict, ill serve Canada's vital international interests in a world of new geo-political/economic
realities and for what should be obvious reasons, put Canadian Jews in an increasingly awkward postion.
As Bishop Desmond Tutu, who certainly knows apartheid when he sees it, has repeatedly declared, Israel is an "apartheid state."
In fact, he has described the plight of Palestinians as much worse than that of his people under apartheid in South Africa.
Israel's occupation, dispossession, brutalization, mass killing, judicial assassinations, collective punishment, imprisonment without
charge and segregation of Palestinians is well documented and known to the world. This was well reflected in a 2007 survey of global
opinion that revealed Israel has the least positive rating of any country evaluated. Indeed, at that time 56% of Canadians viewed
Israel negatively (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/for-israel-every-traveller-is-an-ambassador/article1479056/)
I remind you that this survey was taken two years before "Operation Cast Lead." Since that unjustifiable, barbaric, illegal and
unrelenting 22 day land, air and sea military assault against a defenceless people resulting in the slaughter of 1,400 Palestinians,
mainly non-combatants, including hundreds of women and children, Israel's image worldwide has deteriorated much, much further.
What angers me is that you are a learned and well travelled man. Surely, you know better. If you aspire to make a difference in
this world and our country, you should have the moral integrity and courage to do what is right by standing shoulder to shoulder
with the victims, not the victimizers. I have no doubt that it would best serve your political ambitions as well as the
interests of Canadians and all of humanity.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Gary Keenan
______________________________________________________
For Immediate Release
March 1, 2010
Statement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff regarding Israeli Apartheid Week
OTTAWA - Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement today:
“On university campuses across the country this week, Israeli Apartheid Week will once again attempt to
demonize and undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state. It is part of a global campaign of calls for divestment,
boycotts and proclamations, and it should be condemned unequivocally and absolutely.
Apartheid is defined, in international law, as a crime against humanity. Israeli Apartheid Week is a deliberate
attempt to portray the Jewish state as criminal.
The activities planned for the week will single out Jewish and Israeli students. They will be made to feel ostracized
and even physically threatened in the very place where freedom should be paramount -- on a university campus.
Let us be clear: criticism of Israeli government policy is legitimate. Wholesale condemnation of the State of Israel
and the Jewish people is not legitimate. Not now, not ever.
The very premise of Israeli Apartheid Week runs counter to our shared values of mutual respect and tolerance,
regardless of nationality, race or creed. It is an attempt to heighten the tensions in our communities around the tragic
conflict in the Middle East.
On behalf of the Liberal party of Canada and the Parliamentary caucus, I urge all Canadians to join with us in
condemning Israeli Apartheid Week, and to reject, in principle, all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance,
both within this country and around the world.”
-30-
Contact:
Press Office
Office of the Leader of the Opposition
613-996-6740