‘If you’re going to adopt anti-Palestinian racism, are you going to have anti Israeli-racism?’ said MP Anthony Housefather
“I think what’s really important is that Canadians understand we’re trying to address the divisions and the hatred that we’re seeing in society,” Virani told reporters on his way to the Liberals’ weekly caucus meeting. “And we’re seeing a lot that’s related to geopolitical conflicts on the other side of the world.”
“That’s why it’s critical to address antisemitism, but it’s also critical to address reprisals and backlash that we’ve seen against people that are Arab or Palestinian, including looking in more detail at the definition of anti-Palestinian racism.”
Anthony Housefather, the Liberal MP for Mount Royal, said he wasn’t convinced Palestinians need special protections.
“We’d have to understand why … you would have this nationality and not other nationalities,” said Housefather.
“If you’re going to adopt anti-Palestinian racism, are you going to have anti Israeli-racism? Are you going to have anti other country racism?”
In this definition, anti-Palestinian racism is “a form of anti-Arab racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames, or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives.”
Diab could not be reached for comment.
Critics have expressed concerns about the potential for pro-Israel speech to be censured under the guise of anti-Palestinian racism.
Richard Marceau, Vice President for External Affairs at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said he was disappointed by the report’s inclusion of anti-Palestinian racism.
“While invoked by its proponents as a form of human rights protection, (anti-Palestinian racism) is a misnomer that cynically misapplies the concept of racism,” said Marceau.
“It attempts to label political positions and differences of opinion as breaches of human rights, undermining the foundation of Canadian human rights law.”
National Post
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