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Are Israel's critics fueling a new anti-Semitism?

Guests debate whether Prime Minister Harper is correct to equate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
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Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper touches the stones of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, during a visit to Jerusalem's Old City. PM Harper told Israel's parliament any comparison between the Jewish state and apartheid South Africa was 'sickening', drawing a standing ovation. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)
The Current22:00Are Israel's critics fueling a new anti-Semitism? - Jan 24, 2014

Prime Minister Stephen Harper certainly didn't mince words on his trip to the Middle East this week. His steadfast support of Israel has certainly raised the ire of some, especially his comments about equating criticism of the state of Israel with anti-semitism. We debate how to determine when criticizing Israel is shrouded in hate, or when things are being conflated.

Is Prime Minister Harper right in equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism?

This is the face of the new anti-Semitism. It targets the Jewish people by targeting Israel and attempts to make the old bigotry acceptable to a new generation.- Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Prime Minister Stephen Harper took a strong stand during his speech to Israel's Parliament this week ... linking those who criticize the State of Israel with the rise of a new and insidious form of anti-Semitism.

• Stephen Harper's speech to the Israeli Knesset -- CBC News

Of course many people, including a lot of Israelis and Jewish Canadians disagree. The Prime Minister did say that not all criticism of Israel was anti-Semitic.

Nonetheless, he has opened up a challenging conversation about when and how the two intersect.

  • Joseph Ben-Ami is a former policy aid to Stephen Harper and Stockwell Day. He's now the President of the Arthur Meighen Institute, an independent conservative think-tank. He was in Ottawa.
  • Rima Berns-McGown teaches diaspora studies at the University of Toronto. She was in Toronto.

If you have thoughts on this, we want to hear them. When is it okay when it comes to criticizing Israel and what's out of bounds?

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This segment was produced by The Current's Gord Westmacott.

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