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JERUSALEM — In a historic speech here, Prime Minister Stephen Harper rolled out a new definition of anti-Semitism — name-calling that will be controversial at home and on the global diplomatic circuit but which will make him into a mega-star in Israel.
It was blunt. Angry. Honest, perhaps, to a fault. Full of admiration for Israel. And full of scorn for those in Canada and around the world who organize academic boycotts and Israel apartheid rallies. "Quite simply, weak and wrong," he called those fools.
Basically, in Harper's formulation, you're an anti-Semite if you criticize Israel. And no, I don't believe I'm exaggerating.
"Of course, criticism of Israeli government policy is not in and of itself necessarily anti-Semitic," Harper began, sounding reasonable and accommodating.
"What else can we call criticism that selectively condemns only the Jewish state and effectively denies its right to defend itself while systematically ignoring or excusing the violence and oppression all around it?" Anti-semitism.
"What else can we call it when Israel is routinely targeted at the United Nations and when Israel remains the only country to be the subject of a permanent agenda item at the regular sessions of its human rights council?" Why, anti-semitism, of course.
"Any judgment of Israel's actions must start with this understanding: In the 65 years that modern Israel has been a nation, Israelis have endured attacks and slanders beyond counting and have never known a day of true peace." If you don't understand that, well ... you're a you-know-what.
MALBOSIA
I have been waiting for this to pop up here since Monday and so far I have seen nothing. I don't want to be the only one on here crapping on my main man Stephen Harper but I think this deserves mentioning.
TORONTO STAR
JERUSALEM — In a historic speech here, Prime Minister Stephen Harper rolled out a new definition of anti-Semitism — name-calling that will be controversial at home and on the global diplomatic circuit but which will make him into a mega-star in Israel.
It was blunt. Angry. Honest, perhaps, to a fault. Full of admiration for Israel. And full of scorn for those in Canada and around the world who organize academic boycotts and Israel apartheid rallies. "Quite simply, weak and wrong," he called those fools.
An example I would give for "weak" and "wrong" would be attempting to dictate opinion.
Basically, in Harper's formulation, you're an anti-Semite if you criticize Israel. And no, I don't believe I'm exaggerating.
"Of course, criticism of Israeli government policy is not in and of itself necessarily anti-Semitic," Harper began, sounding reasonable and accommodating.
Necessarily?
"What else can we call criticism that selectively condemns only the Jewish state and effectively denies its right to defend itself while systematically ignoring or excusing the violence and oppression all around it?" Anti-semitism.
"What else can we call it when Israel is routinely targeted at the United Nations and when Israel remains the only country to be the subject of a permanent agenda item at the regular sessions of its human rights council?" Why, anti-semitism, of course.
"Any judgment of Israel's actions must start with this understanding: In the 65 years that modern Israel has been a nation, Israelis have endured attacks and slanders beyond counting and have never known a day of true peace." If you don't understand that, well ... you're a you-know-what.
You know, I really felt like there has been progress rehabilitating the world from being bent over by anything "Israel." People are finally starting to to get tired of the same old Israeli BS that usually ends in death. Right when it looks like Israel is getting desperate and about to do something stupid.... In swoops, my main man Stephen Harper.
Thanks Home Boy! I can always count on you to tee up any hope and bat it right out of the park. Good look'in out bro!
Peace.
openyourmind1262
I used to have a little respect for Canada's Government. You just caused that to be flushed straight down the toilet. I thought our Government was by giving them 2.3 billion dollars for security. As long as Israel is around.....no one on the planet is secure. They are without a doubt the biggest threat to the world their is. America is their attack dog, and looks like Canada if their new BFF. Does your country send Israel millions of dollars of you all's tax money like America does?
MALBOSIA
reply to post by bobs_uruncle
I am curious what Harper is going to get out of this from Israel. Maybe he will finally get some cooperation on the XL pipeline south of the boarder. The US state department is releasing it's final environmental report soon....
Tin foil hat alert! maybe to extinguish heat the white house is getting for not standing up for Israel in usual fashion, especially from the state department. So... State department tells Israel to stick the tail on Canada for a while l, in return they can wave the pipeline carrot in front of the PMO for cooperation.