NDP critic soothes Jews

Svend Robinson clarifies position on Israel to CJC.

PAT JOHNSON REPORTER

Svend Robinson has mended some fences with the Jewish community. The outspoken New Democratic Party member of Parliament met with officials from Canadian Jewish Congress recently in what is reported as a frank discussion of his views on Israel.

Robinson has been harshly critical of Israel for its actions in the occupied territories, but in his meeting with CJC officials, he made clear his support for the state of Israel within secure boundaries and his staunch opposition to the use of violence to meet political ends.

Robinson, who represents the constituency of Burnaby-Douglas, is his party's critic for foreign affairs. He told the Bulletin after the meeting that he was glad to be able to discuss these issues with Jewish officials and said he regrets the perception that he is in any way anti-Israel. He insisted that support for Israel is not compromised by his continuing defence of Palestinians.

"Can you be a strong advocate for Palestinian rights and at the same time clearly and unequivocally and unreservedly assert the importance of respecting and celebrating Israel's right to exist?" he asked. "And the answer to that is certainly a resounding yes."

"I've travelled to Israel and the occupied territories on a number of occasions over the years and would defend to the very end Israel's right to, not just to exist - I think that's kind of a lowest common denominator - but to flourish."

Robinson said he has little optimism for peace in the region and he views an international force - a sort of peacekeeping body - as the most likely source for a solution. He criticized Arab countries for repression and brutality, applauding Israel's dedication to democratic principles. But he said Israel under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon cannot be trusted to negotiate a final settlement with the Palestinians.

"The question was put, 'Don't you agree that this should be resolved by a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians?' And the answer is no," said Robinson.

"Sharon is, I believe, at the very least, complicit in war crimes in Sabra and Shatilla in 1982 and, as you know, there was an inquiry that found him at least indirectly responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent civilians. His record with respect to the Palestinians and the rights of Palestinians is well known."

But while Robinson defended the interests of Palestinians, he deplored the use of violence to meet their ends.

"Any attack on innocent civilians is murder and is to be condemned in the strongest possible terms, period," he said. "All human lives are precious, whether it's the life of a janitor or a stockbroker in the World Trade Centre or a teenager who's eating pizza in downtown Tel-Aviv. To attack them is utterly inexcusable and indefensible."

The meeting, which took place Oct. 19 and was also attended by Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, the only other NDP MP from this province, pleased members of CJC. Mark Weintraub, a national vice-president of Congress, said meeting with Robinson was important for a number of reasons.

While the NDP is a relatively small party in Parliament, it has historically been an incubator for political innovation. Moreover, despite belonging to a small party, Robinson is one of Parliament's most familiar and media-wise members

But the most pressing reason, Weintraub suggested, was that CJC is a human rights organization and the anti-Israel bias among some Canadian human rights activists has damaged the working relationship between groups.

"The work of Canadian Jewish Congress is to protect minorities," said Weintraub. "Whether you're gay or you're female or you're a person of color or whether you're Jewish, there is important work to be done in human rights and we consider ourselves to be at the forefront of that, so it's extremely troubling that our natural friends in the human rights community have not been able to see clearly that the whole peace process dialogue has been hijacked by those who are fomenting hate."

It is another priority of CJC to seek clarity on political issues, something Weintraub said was accomplished by this meeting.

"This was extremely important that it be communicated to Canadians and to members of our community that the NDP is not a hostile place when it comes to Israel, that the NDP recognizes that Israel is a staunch ally and friend of Israel and shares common values," he said.

"Having said that, [Robinson] did not in any way derogate from his very sharp critique of what he considers to be unacceptable conduct by Israel in its engagement with the Palestinians."

Dr. Michael Elterman, an officer of CJC, said his group received from Robinson the most important statement on Israel that they seek from politicians.

"What he said was that, clearly, the Jewish people of Israel have a right to exist within secure borders which, I think, is the starting position that the community wants to hear when we talk to politicians." It was useful to meet face-to-face with Robinson and find exactly where he stands, said Elterman.

"He is the foreign affairs critic and we want to know where his party stands vis-à-vis Israel," he said. "If they're serious about forming a government ... we want to know if this is in fact the official policy of his party ... I think some progress was made."

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