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Editorial

If it sometimes feels like writing editorials for the Jewish Independent is an unappreciated act of self-indulgence, at least we know someone's reading.

A recent editorial on this page was distributed by the Canada-Palestine Network. The commentary dealt with the CBC's biased treatment of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Canpalnet contributor took issue with our suggestion that the pogrom against Israel by its critics bears resemblance to the treatment of Jews by our historical enemies.

As usual, rather than giving any thought or introspection to the possibility that prejudice plays a role in the ferocity of the anti-Israel movement, critics of our reasoned editorial exhibited the same disquieting circle-the-wagons rejection that greets any hint of impropriety on the part of Israel's opponents.

In remarking on our words on the Canpalnet site, a commentator declares: "The same tired, pathetic mantra from the Zionists; anyone who dares portray Israel in a negative light, or gives a forum to those who would, is a vicious anti-Semite."

First, we didn't say vicious, but let's not split hairs. More intriguing is the afterthought by this contributor, who does more than we could to prove our point. It has been a mainstay of the anti-Israel movement to depict any suggestion of bigotry as a plot by the Jews to prevent criticism of Israel. The writer sees this issue not as a Canadian cultural community concerned about discrimination, but as a "tack" used by Zionists to advance their position.

"If they were as smart as they purportedly are," writes the humanitarian, "Zionists would realize this and try a new tack...."

What the writer gives away, perhaps unwittingly, is the underlying belief that "Zionists" are purportedly "smart." This is a new one. We always thought it was "Jews" who were "purportedly" smart.

Unfortunately, the existence of prejudice amid the anti-Israel mobs is not a "tack." It's a sad fact.

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