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Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) (IJV(C)) represents Jews in Canada who have in common a strong commitment to social justice and universal human rights.The organization was founded in 2008 as a result of the national Independent Jewish Canadian Conference. IJV(C) promotes the expression of alternative Jewish voices, particularly in respect of the grave situation in the Middle East, which threatens the future of both Israelis and Palestinians as well as the stability of the whole region. It is guided by the following principles:
[edit] PositionsIJV(C) wants Israeli policies to be in accord with international law and human rights. This includes withdrawing from land Israel occupied after the Six-Day War in 1967, respecting the universal right of refugees to return to their homes or receive compensation, dismantling the Separation Wall and Israeli settlements on the West Bank and Golan Heights, and correcting laws and practices within Israel which allegedly discriminate against the rights of non-Jews.[2] [edit] First National ConferenceThe Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians along with independent activists held a national Independent Jewish Canadians Conference on March 28-30, 2008 with Naomi Klein as its keynote speaker.[3] The participants affirmed their support for international law, its opposition to all forms or racism (including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia), and pledged to counter the view that any criticism of Israel's government and military policies is automatically racist. Specifically, IJV(C) opposed the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza which commenced in 1967.[4] The Principles adopted at the conference support the view that: "There is no justification for any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, anti-Arab racism or Islamophobia, in any circumstance. The battle against anti-Semitism is vital, and it is undermined whenever opposition to Israeli government policies is automatically branded as anti-Semitic."[5] The conference passed a resolution creating an interim steering committee that would found a national progressive Jewish organization. The steering committee adopted the name Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) shortly afterwards. ACJC co-founder Eibie Weizfeld split with the new group and continues to lead an organization called ACJC which is unconnected with IJV. The seven stated goals of IJV(C) are:
[edit] Support for Boycott of IsraelIn June 2009, the IJV reportedly became the first national Jewish organization to join an international campaign in support for a the "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)" against Israel. IJV stated that it will:
[edit] On pro-Israel advocacyIn an article written for the Winnipeg Free Press and reprinted widely since, IJV(C) member Jason Kunin wrote that "pro-Israel advocacy depends upon on the active dissemination of Islamophobia. Not surprisingly, engendering hatred in this manner inflames anti-Jewish sentiment among Arabs and Muslims. None of this is a recipe for making Jews safe" and that "Defenders of Israel often argue that Israel is forced to do what it does — to destroy people's homes, to keep them under the boot of occupation, to seal them into walled ghettos, to brutalize them daily with military incursions and random checkpoints — to protect its citizens from Palestinian violence."[9] In an interview with the Ryerson Free Press in July 2009, IJV Co-Chair Diana Ralph expressed confidence that "progressive Jews in alliance with other pro-justice groups had the potential to build a movement powerful enough to expose, weaken and eventually defeat the Canadian Israel lobby." In spite of heavy pro-Israel propaganda, most Jews are far more progressive than the Israel lobby which claims to speak for them, she claimed.[10] [edit] 2008-2009 Gaza WarIJV opposed the Gaza War. In a press release issued at the beginning of the conflict, the group stated that:
IJV participated in the Code Pink delegation which brought humanitarian relief to the territory in May 2009.[12] [edit] IJV criticism of the Canadian Jewish CongressThe IJV has been highly critical of the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC). In an interview with the The Kelowna Daily Courier, Sid Shnaid, co-chairman of the IJV Canada, accused the CJC of "playing the anti-Semtic card...because they don‘t have a lot else. They want to intimidate; they want to shut (the debate) down. They want people to avert their eyes when it comes to the ongoing crisis there to allow them to do what they have been doing." He further added that the CJC is "playing a losing game. They‘re placing themselves on the wrong side of the issue of free speech. It can‘t be won. You don‘t win people‘s hearts and minds by telling them to shut up and go away.” He also stated that it was “outrageous” that Bernie Farber, CEO of the CJC, attended a conference of the United Church of Canada (UCC) “to try to shut down this debate.” [13] [edit] Canadian Jewish Congress criticism of IJVThe Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) has criticized IJV(C). Bernie Farber, chief executive of the CJC, states that "no one ever says Israel is perfect" and predicted the fledgling group will have trouble finding support. Farber stated that the alliance "will remain a rump on the edge of Jewish society."[14] [edit] References
[edit] See also[edit] Further reading
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