HALIFAX — More than 100 men, women and children stood strong for Israel and marched against anti-semitism in Halifax on Wednesday evening (Oct. 1).
Holding signs reading “We Will Not Be Silent” and proudly waving Israeli flags, the orderly and mostly silent crowd gathered in a downtown park and marched through downtown streets in a candlelight walk that culminated in a speech by the past chair of the 2013 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Mario Silva flew to Halifax from Toronto to address the community of marchers from many faiths, including more than a dozen Christians from the Annapolis Valley who travelled more than 130 kilometres to attend.
Silva, a Liberal MP for eight years, representing Davenport in Toronto, and a published author on various human rights issues, said, “We are dealing with a widespread, serious and ongoing problem. Anti-semitism is unique in its universality, intensity, longevity and irrationality.”
He stressed hope for world peace is in danger.
“The world cannot combat terrorism without confronting those nations that support terrorism. We cannot fight ISIS and their genocidal plot to kill all Jews, Christians and other minorities in the Middle East without facing their partners – Boko Haram, Al-Shahab, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda and Hamas – all of whom share a common fanatical ideology of destruction and death.”
In a later interview, Silva said Israel needs co-operation from like-minded nations. He also condemned the United Nations for its bias against Israel, suggesting more countries must speak up for Israel, which he called “an easy target for countries with their own internal problems. The Middle East, with no democracy, no respect for its own population, has its scapegoat,” and the United Nations goes along with that.
“A lot can be learned from Israel, which just wants to live in peace,” he said.
Bob Watson, a Christian from Kentville, N.S., 100 kilometres from Halifax, has been to Israel several times, leading groups for educational and spiritual tours. He said he was proud to attend this march of support.
“I am in total admiration of the Jewish People, the Chosen People, and what they have done in their land, how they’ve excelled in so many ways – science, education, agriculture – and how much they have contributed to the world.”
The event was co-ordinated by the Atlantic Jewish Council and the Centre For Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Jon Goldberg, executive director of the AJC, said the walk was organized to combat negative portrayals of Israel during coverage of recent fighting in Gaza.
“The purpose is to stand up for ourselves as Jewish people and to stand up for western values that this country stands for,” he said.