On April 2, 2018 Bernie M Farber, the former Executive Director of Mosaic Institute who also served as the chief executive officer of the Canadian Jewish Congress, shared on his Facebook page a news report entitled “Corbyn Tonight Met Far-Left Group Who Called For Destruction of Israel and Attacked Critics as “Non-Jews”.
The post sparked an online discussion over the definition of Anti-Semitism. In this context Farber wrote the following:
It isn’t disagreement on Israeli policy that I see as the issue here. There are many lately who have spoken out boldly against aspects of Israeli decisions and policies including the African migrant issue and the IDF tactics of shooting innocent demonstrators. There are others, myself included, who deplore the occupation and have said so.
However there is a line at least for me. I do believe that denying Israel’s right to exist, virtually the only country of which such a sentiment is expressed, crosses the line into antisemitism. One can certainly express opposition concern even doubt over the concept of Zionism as one could with capitalism, communism etc, but denying the right of the existence of a state that is predominantly Jewish is in my respectful view beyond the pale.
The annual Al-Quds Day rally was initiated by Iran in 1979 as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against Zionism and Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. Al-Quds rallies are taken place at the end of the month of Ramadan in many cities in north America with an active participation of Islamic organizations, pro BDS activists, pro Palestinian students groups, radical left Jewish organizations and Neturei Karta.
See also “Canada – The U.S. Pro-Islamist Neighbor” by Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld (click HERE)