Israel envoy condemns Canadian boycott
By BETH DUFF-BROWN, Associated Press Writer
June 2,2006
Yahoo News
TORONTO -Israel's ambassador to Canada on Friday joined national Jewish groups and politicians in condemning a decision by a branch of the country's largest public employees' union to support boycotting Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians.
The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees convention voted June 27 to support a campaign to boycott the Jewish state until it "recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination" and grants Palestinian refugees the right of return to Israel.
The Ontario branch represents nearly half of the 450,000 union members working nationwide in health care, education, social services, universities, transportation and other sectors.
Under the resolution approved by delegates, the Ontario branch will develop an education campaign about the issue, including Canada's political and economic support for Israeli policies.
Israeli Ambassador Alan Baker wrote in an editorial in the National Post on Friday that many union members were questioning why the group "is so unwisely injecting itself, its good name and the goodwill of its members in such a partisan and openly hostile manner into Middle East politics."
Britain's largest college teachers' union voted Monday to consider boycotting Israeli academics over what members termed "apartheid" policies and discrimination against Palestinians.
The boycott movement has outraged Jewish leaders, who say the strategy is anti-Semitic and fails to recognize Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks by Palestinian extremists.
"Boycott, divestment and sanction worked to end apartheid in South Africa," said Katherine Nastovski, chairwoman of the Ontario branch's international solidarity committee. "We believe the same strategy will work to enforce the rights of Palestinian people, including the right of refugees to return to their homes and properties."
Leaders of B'nai Brith Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center called the vote outrageous, saying Jewish and non-Jewish union members had contacted them to complain they felt betrayed.
Frank Dimant, vice president of B'nai Brith Canada, called the vote a blatant attempt "to advance a clearly politicized anti-Israel agenda that is inconsistent with the union's core mandate of serving its members."
June 2,2006
Yahoo News
TORONTO -Israel's ambassador to Canada on Friday joined national Jewish groups and politicians in condemning a decision by a branch of the country's largest public employees' union to support boycotting Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians.
The Ontario chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees convention voted June 27 to support a campaign to boycott the Jewish state until it "recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination" and grants Palestinian refugees the right of return to Israel.
The Ontario branch represents nearly half of the 450,000 union members working nationwide in health care, education, social services, universities, transportation and other sectors.
Under the resolution approved by delegates, the Ontario branch will develop an education campaign about the issue, including Canada's political and economic support for Israeli policies.
Israeli Ambassador Alan Baker wrote in an editorial in the National Post on Friday that many union members were questioning why the group "is so unwisely injecting itself, its good name and the goodwill of its members in such a partisan and openly hostile manner into Middle East politics."
Britain's largest college teachers' union voted Monday to consider boycotting Israeli academics over what members termed "apartheid" policies and discrimination against Palestinians.
The boycott movement has outraged Jewish leaders, who say the strategy is anti-Semitic and fails to recognize Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist attacks by Palestinian extremists.
"Boycott, divestment and sanction worked to end apartheid in South Africa," said Katherine Nastovski, chairwoman of the Ontario branch's international solidarity committee. "We believe the same strategy will work to enforce the rights of Palestinian people, including the right of refugees to return to their homes and properties."
Leaders of B'nai Brith Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center called the vote outrageous, saying Jewish and non-Jewish union members had contacted them to complain they felt betrayed.
Frank Dimant, vice president of B'nai Brith Canada, called the vote a blatant attempt "to advance a clearly politicized anti-Israel agenda that is inconsistent with the union's core mandate of serving its members."
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 2:38 AM
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