WINNIPEG — Winnipeg’s first Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) will take place at University of Manitoba at the same time that JSA/Hillel will be running Israel Awareness Week activities that were scheduled and planned months ago.
The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg only learned at the end of February that U of M would be taking part in IAW March 8 to 12.
“It is possible that the organizers of IAW timed their events to take place during the same week we have scheduled our events,” Bob Freedman, the CEO of the Jewish federation, said in a phone interview, adding that he didn’t know for sure.
“Samantha Loxton, [director of JSA/Hillel] has been in contact with the Muslim Students Association, and they have assured us that, unlike what has been the case in other cities, they are not backing this event. Their name is not listed as a sponsor on the IAW website,” Freedman said.
The main sponsors for IAW in Winnipeg are the local chapters of Canada-Palestine Support Network (CanPalNet), Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and ActLeft, a student group at the University of Manitoba.
JSA/Hillel is putting on two pro-Israel events on the U of M campus during the week in question. These include a talk by Israeli-Arab law professor Mohammed Wattad on March 8, and a day where students will be setting up a shuk, or open market, March 11, with free giveaways, falafel, information and video clips that showcase the beauty and culture of Israel and the country’s business, medical and technological achievements.
When asked about security for Wattad’s lecture, Freedman said, “We are relying on university campus security and have raised the issue of security with U of M.”
Freedman also raised the issue of ensuring that IAW activities do not lead to harassment of pro-Israel students. In a letter dated Feb. 26, he wrote to U of M president David Barnard: “We trust that the university will ensure a safe environment for all students so that freedom of expression can occur, without repression, without intimidation or worry for both sides of the equation.”
John Danakas, the director of public affairs at U of M, told The CJN in an e-mail that U of M will “respond promptly to behaviours that constitute discrimination, harassment or represent a violation to Canada’s laws.
“We will continue to monitor [IAW] closely, and please be assured that maintaining a safe and respectful environment for our students, faculty and staff remains a priority for the University of Manitoba.”
In addition to events at U of M, JSA/Hillel also planned two activities off-campus – a hooka night March 9 at an eatery where students can get a taste of Israel, and The Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour show that took place at the West End Cultural Centre the week before IAW.
As for responding to IAW, Freedman said JSA/Hillel will have students at every IAW event to “monitor the events, but not to disrupt.
“Our student leadership is disciplined, and they know how to conduct themselves… If a student asks us about attending an IAW event, we will tell them to go if they are interested, and if there is something they feel ought to be questioned, then they ought to do so in an appropriate fashion. We don’t want any Jewish students or any people from the Jewish community who aren’t students disrupting or starting any kind of outburst or riot.”
The federation also plans to have staff at the university on different days, Freedman said, and he himself will be going to U of M during IAW.
“We will be there in a supportive role,” he said, adding he estimates that about a dozen pro-Israel professors will make themselves visible that week.
“Their job won’t be to counter IAW, but to be supportive of our students,” he said.
