Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Warns of Rise of Anti-Semitism

From Gloria Galloway, at Globe and Mail, "Harper Pledges ‘Relentless’ Stand Against Anti-Semitism":
Prime Minister Stephen Harper told an international group of parliamentarians in Ottawa to discuss anti-Semitism that he will continue to be a vocal supporter of Israel even if it costs Canada international honours like a seat on the UN Security Council.

The conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combatting Anti-Semitism – a gathering of politicians from more than 40 countries – is largely aimed at exposing what its members say is the “new anti-Semitism,” which is defined as excessive and unjust criticism of the state of Israel.

While the substance of anti-Semitism is as crude as ever, Mr. Harper said, its method is now more sophisticated.

“Harnessing disparate anti-American, anti-Semitic and anti-Western ideologies, it targets the Jewish people by targetting the Jewish homeland, Israel, as the source of injustice and conflict in the world and uses, perversely, the language of human rights to do so,” the Prime Minister said. “We must be relentless in exposing this new anti-Semitism for what it is.”

That prompted loud applause from conference participants.

“Israel, like any country, may be subjected to fair criticism,” Mr. Harper said, pointing out that Israel subjects itself to such criticism as part of a healthy democratic debate.

“But when Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand,” he said.
RTWT. (And check the link above for video of Prime Minister Harper.)

1 comments:

Mo said...

Can we trade Harper for Obama?

Ok, Canadians might refuse.

But it would be nice to have someone in our Presidency who doesn't hate Israel, as I fully believe Obama does.