In Canada, progressive Jews like Naomi Klein are  “Concerned About Suppression of Criticism of Israel.”

The signatories are particularly concerned that unfounded accusations of anti-Semitism deflect attention from Israel’s accountability for what many have called war crimes in Gaza. They state that B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress have led campaigns to silence criticism of Israel on university campuses, in labour unions and in other groups. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff unquestioningly echo the views of these particular Jewish organizations.

The signatories strongly state that they are against all expressions of racism. While firmly committed to resisting any form of prejudice against Jewish people, their statement explicitly states that these spurious allegations of anti-Semitism bring the anti-Communist terror of the 1950s vividly to mind. The statement underlines the immeasurable suffering and injustice to the Palestinian people due to the severe poverty, daily humiliations, and military invasions inflicted by the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, here in the US, a nine-year old letter is circulating the net about Jewish newspaper editor Debbie Ducro being fired for publishing an op-ed by a Jewish American sympaethic to the Palestinian right of return. This blogger dug deeper to uncover the back story behind the 9-year old story.

Other progressive Jewish bloggers insist, like many within Israel these days, that the argument is over and that it is, in fact apartheid, and want other bloggers and activists to say the same.

In Israel, we continue to watch the blatant censorship and suppression of the rights of 20% of the Israeli population, and eagerly await the outcry of American Jewish leadership that claims it is committed to Israel’s survival as a vial democracy.

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