OTTAWA, Sept. 19, 2011 – The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs commends the Canadian Government on becoming the first country to officially sign the Ottawa Protocol; a report on anti-Semitism issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism (ICCA) which met in Ottawa last November.
Today, Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, released the following statement:
“The Ottawa Protocol stems from the single largest conference ever held on the study of anti-Semitism. Its ground-breaking findings and recommendations will serve as the basis of the renewed international effort against anti-Semitism. The fact that this important document was crafted in Ottawa is further testimony to Canada’s leadership role in this vital global battle.”
“The Coalition’s cross-party report reveals how anti-Semitism is on the rise around the globe, increasingly expressed in the guise of anti-Zionism. There is a world of difference between legitimate criticism of specific Israeli government policies, and the use of terms that dehumanize Israelis and oppose the Jewish state’s very existence. Such hatred, which frequently emerges from Israel’s most vocal detractors in the language of classic anti-Semitism, confirms the convergence of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes.”
“Canadians can take great pride in the fact that our country has taken a leading role in combating anti-Semitism and upholding human rights for all. We are hopeful that the recommendations of the Ottawa Protocol will not only be adopted by other countries, but will serve as a model for countering all forms of hatred and discrimination.”