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Israel: Western Imperialism Favours Democracy

Is there something wrong with Zionism? Has it been declared verboten? Is he suggesting that Zionism is racism? These organizations talk about bringing peace to the conflicts in the Middle East. No, wait, I must amend that. They are only interested in the conflict regarding Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state amidst multiple Muslim states particularly with regards to the Palestinians.
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Yves Engler in his blog " How the Tories Propagate Jewish Imperialism" has given a detailed history of Canada's defense of Israel's right to exist. But he takes umbrage with the current government for being "more aggressive in its public declarations than any before it and this has helped drive the establishment Jewish community to an even more hardline position."

I don't know the hardline position to which he refers because he doesn't talk about it. All I read is that Canada has a history of defending Israel's right to exist. Engler seems to be questioning that right as he refers to Israel as part of "Western Imperialism," hinting that the Jews are interlopers. He seems to be saying that Canada, a democracy, should not defend Israel so vociferously even though Israel is the only democracy in a sea of autocracies, theocracies and despots. Rather he lauds the work of Jewish organizations that see Israel as racist:

"Groups such as Independent Jewish Voices, Not In Our Name, Jewish Voices for Peace, the International Jewish Anti- Zionist Network, Women in Solidarity with Palestine and Jews for a Just Peace, have undercut the notion that all Canadian Jews support Israeli policy or Zionism."

He supports organizations that don't support Zionism. Is there something wrong with Zionism? Has it been declared verboten? Is he suggesting that Zionism is racism?

These organizations talk about bringing peace to the conflicts in the Middle East. No, wait, I must amend that. They are only interested in the conflict regarding Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state amidst multiple Muslim states particularly with regards to the Palestinians.

I have interacted with two of these organizations. One of them, IJV, Independent Jewish Voices, said: "Israel is not a democracy, and to believe that discredits you enormously in the eyes of everyone who supports IJV on this page." How does someone engage with a group that declares unabashedly that Israel is not a democracy?

In 2010 former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar wrote " ...the state of Israel was created by a decision of the UN. Its legitimacy, therefore, should not be in question. Israel is a nation with deeply rooted democratic institutions. It is a dynamic and open society that has repeatedly excelled in culture, science and technology... Now, at the behest of radical Islamists and their sympathisers, it faces a campaign of delegitimization through international law and diplomacy."

Israel is not perfect, and I can understand others wanting to perfect Israel as she is the "light of freedom and democracy in what is otherwise a region of darkness." But to deny her the status of a democracy when all around her are living, breathing examples of despotic, theocratic, autocratic countries, many now consumed in tribal warfare, (Syria Afghanistan Iraq) and the dismantling of anything resembling democracy ( Egypt and Turkey) is simply moral depravity disguised as political correctness.

Saudi Arabia denies women any rights. Iran hangs gays. Journalists in many of these countries are denied free speech. They are put in jail, or worse.

And free speech, something that is denied by these organizations, seems to be applauded by Engler. Any attempt to have an intellectual discussion with them is impossible. Say something they don't like and they respond with:

"We haven't responded because it isn't worth our time as organizers for human rights and social justice to engage with this kind of rhetoric. We will go on pursuing equal rights for Palestinians and Israelis (this doesn't exist in Israel, you obviously didn't read the documents from the first message I sent you), and not be distracted by dishonest commentators like yourself. This correspondence is over with from our perspective."

Facts terrify these people. They can't counteract them.

Israel is open to all races, colours, religions, sexual orientations, providing equal opportunity for participating in the IDF to being a student in institution of higher learning. All citizens of Israel have the same opportunities in the same way that all citizens on Canada have equal opportunity.

If equal rights for Palestinians means the end of Israel as a Jewish State then I think we need to question the ulterior motives of these "peacenik" organizations. They do not demand that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon declare themselves as anything less than Muslim states with varying levels of Sharia Law.

There is no concern from these peace-loving organizations when comments declaring the end of Israel are proclaimed by leaders in the area like Abbas, the Palestinian Leader who said "In a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli -- civilian or soldier -- on our lands," and Hamas minister Fathi Hammad who said during a recent public address in Gaza: "We shall liberate our land, Allah willing. We shall liberate our Al-Aqsa Mosque, and our cities and villages, as a prelude to the establishment of the future Islamic Caliphate. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are at the threshold of a global Islamic civilization era."

Are Engler and these organizations pushing for a new state, a Palestinian state that will be free of Jews? Is that the new world order being promoted in the 21st century by anti-right-wing western imperialists? If that is the case then sign me up as a follower of Harper.

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