A "new anti-Semitism" that emanates from an alliance of Western
leftists and Islamic extremists is more dangerous than the "old
European" form of Jew-hatred, Canada's minister of citizenship,
immigration and multiculturalism said as he wound up a four-day trip to
Israel Sunday.
"The existential threat faced by Israel on a daily basis is
ultimately a threat to the broader Western civilization," said Jason
Kenney, explaining the staunchly pro-Israel positions of his
government, led by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"It's a threat that comes from profoundly undemocratic forces that
don't have the same conception of human dignity or freedom, and which
abuse Israel as a kind of representative of the broader West and
Western liberal-democratic values," said Kenney. "I also very acutely
understand the nature of the new anti-Semitism, and I think it's even
more dangerous than the old European anti-Semitism."
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Kenney said many anti-Israel attacks come from adherents of a form
of anti-Semitism that who appear to view a Jewish homeland as
illegitimate.
"Israel is not perfect, obviously," Kenney said. "Israelis should
be the first to admit that. But we acknowledge that so much of the
criticism Israel faces is motivated by a dangerous form of
anti-Semitism that tries to hide behind anti-Zionism and is represented
by a coalition of the far left in the West with extreme currents of
jihadi Islam that seek the destruction of the Jewish nation. They seem
to believe that the Jewish people are the only people in the world that
don't have a right to a homeland."
The 40-year-old, who earlier this month was elected Canada's "Best
Overall MP" by fellow parliamentarians, prides himself on being
responsible for his country's decision to shun the United
Nations-sponsored Durban II conference on racism, based on fears it
would be misused as a platform for unfair criticism of Israel. Canada
was the first country to announce its boycott of the meet, even ahead
of Israel.
Before coming to Israel, Kenney visited Lebanon, Syria and Egypt,
as Canada is home to many immigrants from these countries, he said.
After arriving Thursday, he visited a Jewish Agency absorption center
in Mevasseret Zion, outside Jerusalem, and met with his Israeli
counterpart, Immigration Minister Sofa Landver. He also spoke to
Minority Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman and Information and
Diaspora Minister Yuli Edelstein, who is also the former chairman of
the interparliamentary Canada-Israel Friendship Group.
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