Canada could make it easier to criminalize supporters of Palestinian rights. Issam Rimawi APA images

Canada has announced that it will formally adopt a definition of anti-Semitism that could characterize Palestinian rights campaigning as anti-Jewish bigotry.

The definition is contained in the Canadian government’s new strategy to “combat racism and discrimination in its various forms.”

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association says the definition is “is extremely vague, open to misinterpretation” and a “threat to freedom of expression.”

Israel lobby groups hope however that by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s “working definition” in full, it will be easier for Canadian authorities to demonize and crack down on campaigners who call for Israel to respect Palestinian rights or who oppose Israel’s state ideology, Zionism.

No joke, this is the biggest threat to free speech in Canada https://t.co/4eCV8NJdCh — Michael Bueckert (@mbueckert) June 25, 2019

Israel lobby groups – which have pressured Canada and other governments and institutions around the world to adopt the IHRA definition – celebrated the news.

#Antizionism is an antisemitic double standard against the Jewish people, and we applaud the Canadian government for their courageous recognition of this reality!@CIJAinfo https://t.co/NwNuMvli1g — CAMERA on Campus (@CAMERAonCampus) June 26, 2019

"B’nai Brith Canada called the IHRA definition “the most universally accepted and expertly driven definition of anti-Semitism available today”; one that 'enjoys unprecedented consensus.'" https://t.co/MwEXOrL79A — B'nai Brith Canada (@bnaibrithcanada) June 26, 2019

B’nai Brith Canada claimed that the IHRA definition is “universally accepted” and “enjoys unprecedented consensus” – but human rights and civil liberties advocates in Canada, the UK, the US and elsewhere have long challenged IHRA’s conflation of Zionism and Judaism in order to suppress speech critical of Israel.

Today, I was joined by @marcomendicino @IrwinCotler & Jewish community leadership to highlight the Govt’s adoption of the #IHRA Definition of #Antisemitism, as part of our new Anti-Racism Strategy. This is an important step forward in ensuring a safer future for Jews in Canada. pic.twitter.com/OCSTQox8ox — Michael Levitt, MP 🇨🇦 (@LevittMichael) June 26, 2019

Irwin Cotler, Canada’s former justice minister and a high-profile figure in the country’s Israel lobby, attended the launch of the government strategy that includes adopting the IHRA definition.

Cotler was the focus of a recent protest over his adamant refusal to condemn Israeli war crimes and human rights abuses against Palestinians.

Israel lobby group CIJA lauded the Canadian government for adopting IHRA, and claimed that the definition “definitively and explicitly recognizes that anti-Zionism is a clear and unequivocal expression of antisemitism.”

.@TheIHRA definition definitively and explicitly recognizes that anti-Zionism is a clear and unequivocal expression of antisemitism. Take a moment to recognize the GOC for using the IHRA definition of #antisemitism in its new anti-racism strategy: https://t.co/Ri0I0HrzKy — CIJA (@CIJAinfo) June 27, 2019

That claim goes far beyond what the IHRA definition actually states, however CIJA’s assertion is a clear indication of the extreme way Israel lobby groups hope the definition will be interpreted – effectively to shut down criticism of Israel’s state ideology under which Palestinian refugees are barred from returning to their homeland solely because they are not Jewish.

The equation by Israel lobby groups of anti-Jewish bigotry with anti-Zionism has been denounced by many international Jewish organizations.

Suppressing support for Palestinian rights

Activists with Independent Jewish Voices Canada warned earlier this month that the adoption of IHRA “is a threat to free speech, academic freedom, and freedom of dissent.”

The primary goal “is to ban or criminalize deep criticism of Israel and Zionism, and suppress support for Palestinian rights,” IJV stated, adding that their members and supporters “know that being Jewish and supporting Israel are two separate things.”

Criticizing the state of Israel isn’t antisemitic pssst pass it on https://t.co/2BHya3nAhp — Independent Jewish Voices (@IndJewishVoices) June 25, 2019

Please sign and share this campaign by @IndJewishVoices to say no to Justin Trudeau's adoption of the controversial IHRA definition which aims to silence supporters of Palestinian Human Rights https://t.co/fgdDqlcQ7G — Turtle Island to Palestine (@PalestineTurtle) June 26, 2019

Unsurprisingly, Canada adopted today the #IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, thus considerably setting back Palestinian rights advocates by making legitimate criticism of Israel tantamount to anti-Semitism. Of course lobby groups like @CIJAinfo are thrilled #cdnpoli #onpoli #YorkU https://t.co/ao7mjjEMXu — SAIA York (@SaiaYork) June 25, 2019

A petition sponsored by Independent Jewish Voices has gathered more than 600 signatures urging the parliament to reject the definition and support initiatives to “defeat white supremacy, anti-Semitism and all forms of racism” and to “uphold the equality and human rights of all people in Canada, in Israel-Palestine and around the world.”