BACKSTORY: Beware the Mossad’s vulture spies
After AFP’s “news” showed images of Gaza flooding and alleged in a headline that “Gaza village floods after Israel opens dam gates,” Britain’s Daily Mail embellished the yarn by declaring that “Hundreds of Palestinians were left homeless after Israel opens river dam and floods houses… hours before Jewish state’s electric company cuts off power in Gaza’s major West Bank cities.”
Rivers and dams in southern Israel? Gaza’s major West Bank cities?
Schabas keeps demonizing Israel, despite ethics violations
When Canadian law professor William Schabas was exposed as having omitted a blatant conflict of interest in applying for a UN position, he abruptly resigned as head of the latest commission investigating Israeli “war crimes.” However, he did not slink away quietly in embarrassment, or apologize and ask for forgiveness.
When it comes to preparedness, we’re not ready
Every Jewish community should do an internal audit of how it responded to the needs of its members last summer during the war on Gaza, a.k.a. Operation Protective Edge. This is crucial, so that we in the Diaspora, like Israel, understand our strengths and weaknesses, and ensure greater preparedness.
The following is my own review of the Jewish community of Toronto’s readiness. Each area is marked out of 10.
As the JDL expands, questions linger
Back in July, the Jewish Defence League (JDL) announced plans to open new chapters in Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver (JDL’s Canadian operations are based in Toronto).
In response, The CJN ran a cover story by contributor Ron Csillag that examined the extent to which the JDL is supported in this country, and asked: “Is the JDL filling a vacuum in Jewish advocacy, which has traditionally shunned street-level agitation? Does the group’s resurgence reflect a hardening of attitudes in the Jewish community?”
Denmark shul attack seen as a ‘wake-up call’
COPENHAGEN — From the window of the Jewish Community of Copenhagen’s crisis centre, Finn Schwarz can see his country changing before his eyes.
Hours after the slaying of a guard outside the Danish capital’s main synagogue early Sunday morning, Feb. 15, two police officers toting machine guns were on patrol outside the center — a common sight in France, Belgium and other trouble spots for Jews, but which resistant authorities in Denmark had previously considered both excessive and unpalatable.
Mideast reporting can be unreliable, veteran journalist says
TORONTO — Mark Lavie spent 40 years as a journalist in the Middle East, including two years living in Egypt, and he suggests consumers of the media should be cautious about accepting at face value what they read or hear.
There are big stories that go untold, as reporters pursue a narrative that more readily fits their worldview, and there are intimidation and threats that prevent full reporting from trouble spots like Gaza and the West Bank. What you get is not necessarily what’s really happening in these regions, he said.
Schabas resigns as head of UN Gaza inquiry panel
Amid a storm of controversy, Canadian law professor William Schabas resigned last week from his role as head of a UN commission of inquiry into alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
He was replaced by commission member Mary McGowan Davis.
Schabas’ resignation came after it was revealed he had been paid $1,300 to do consultancy work with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 2012, putting into question his lack of bias.
Air, rail, security were on Raitt’s Israel agenda
It didn’t take long for the recently initialled transportation agreements between Canada and Israel to pay off.
Sometime last week, at a location that can’t be revealed, people in the security field, or maybe not, took part in an exercise that can be considered security-related, or maybe not, to prepare against threats that may or may not have to do with transportation.
At least, that’s what can be gleaned from reading between the lines of an interview with federal Transportation Minister Lisa Raitt, fresh from a recent visit to Israel.
Young offender sentenced for violence at Calgary rally
A young offender received a sentence of 12 months probation and 30 hours of community service for an assault on a Israel supporter at a rally for Gaza last summer.
The youth, who was 16 at the time of the assault and cannot be named, was sentenced in Calgary youth court Monday.
Q&A Uzi Landau: Seeking to boost travel to Israel
Uzi Landau has served in the Israeli cabinet in a number of roles over the years, including as minister of internal security, and minister of energy and water. As a member of the Yisrael Beitenu party, he currently serves as the country’s minister of tourism. Landau, who was a member of the Likud party for many years, was in Toronto last month where he met with local Jewish community leaders at a breakfast organized by the Israel Government Tourist Office jointly with the Consulate General of Israel. He spoke with The CJN.
