[GSA Council] FW: For GSA endorsement -- Fwd: Statement opposing Canadian government attacks on Palestine solidarity

Tue Mar 24 15:13:43 PDT 2015

Hi Andrea,
Please add this letter to the agenda for the endorsement by the GSA. 
As the attached letter which is initiated by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) which is to oppose the recent MOU (memorandum of understanding) between Canada and Israel, in which Harper government is considering BDS work as antisemitism. 
I have learned that so far the letter is endorsed by a number of organisations/unions including ASSÉ, CSN, Ligue de Droit et Liberté (Civil right and liberties group, Quebec), Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, the Ontario Civil Liberties Association, and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.  
 The letter is straight forward and asserts that BDS is not anti-Semitic. Here's is an excerpt from the letter:
"We are unequivocal in our condemnation of all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism. It must be stressed that it is not anti-Semitic to criticize the state of Israel. Those who equate such criticism with a hatred of Jewish people are simply attempting to silence Israel's critics.
In the face of these actions on the part of the Canadian government, we must defend the right of people in a democracy to criticize any government's behaviour and to participate in boycotts designed to alter that behaviour if they choose to do so."
Since GSA has a General Assembly mandate for BDS, I am positive that we can endorse this letter as GSA. As GSA has already endorsed IAW but need approval from the directors for the publishing of such letter.
--Regards,Danish Sheikh

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rushdia mehreen <rushdia at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 9:14 PM
Subject: Danish and Jawad Fwd: Statement opposing Canadian government attacks on Palestine solidarity
To: "gsabdscommittee at lists.riseup.net" <gsabdscommittee at lists.riseup.net>

Hi Danish and Jawad,
The attached letter is regarding the recent MOU (memorandum of understanding) between Canada and Israel, where Harper is considering BDS work as anti-semitism.
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and PAJU have taken initiative to write a statement criticising and opposing this MOU and solicing signatures from all the organizations who has BDS mandate and other sympathising organisations.
I think it'd be great (and is important) that GSA signs.
Thanks for doing the needful. 
Best,rushdia
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: scott weinstein <scottmontreal at yahoo.ca>
Date: Thu, Mar 5, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Subject: ENGLISH version of statement opposing Canadian government attacks on Palestine solidarity
To: 
cc:Tyler Levitan <tylerlevitan at gmail.com>
* Dear (insert name of contact/ organization's name) I hope this message finds you well. Independent Jewish Voices - Canada (IJV) is reaching out to the (insert organization's name), seeking its endorsement of the statement we have drafted (see below, and attached) in response to efforts on the part of the Canadian government to silence critics of the Israeli state. We are concerned of the consequences these government actions may have for those in Canada who advocate for Palestinian human rights. We hope to compile a list of organizations that endorse the statement with a view to going public with the statement after obtaining a wide range of support. Already, we have received endorsements from the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, the Ontario Civil Liberties Association, and other national and regional organizations. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. We will need to receive the (insert organization's name) decision by no later than Monday, March 23 at 5 PM EST. Sincerely, xxxxxx, on behalf of IJV -- Tyler LevitanCampaigns CoordinatorIndependent Jewish Voices-Canada / Voix juives indépendantes-Canada 613-400-2550tyler at ijvcanada.org

-- 
Houda MADNOUNE
President
Graduate Students AssociationConcordia University
2030 Mackay · Montreal · QC · H3N 1J1tel  514.848.2424.x7900  ·   fax  514.848.7904
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