Raising Consciousness

"Recognizing the uniqueness and particularity of the Holocaust in no way diminishes other historic genocides, but we believe that there is a very specific context surrounding the Holocaust, namely anti-Semitism.  An ancient and pernicious form of hatred unique in its ferocious intent to completely obliterate the Jewish people.
"We think it's particularly relevant today given ongoing violent anti-Semitism."
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney

What a sea change Canada has undergone with the current Conservative-lead government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Gone entirely the insipid response of Canada's Cabinet, its Department of Foreign Affairs, its Ambassador to the United Nations whenever Israel was derided, accused, vilified at the United Nations or at UN affiliate bodies like the Human Rights Council.

Under previous governments it was of little interest and even less importance that Israel had few supporters in the international community other than the United States and occasionally the odd-country-out or a member-nation of the European Union support.  This current Canadian government is front and centre in support of the State of Israel.

It is not too far out of context to claim now that Canada does represent indeed Israel's staunchest defender when it is being constantly assailed by the claques associated with the Organization of the Islamic Conference and its oil-hungry supporter-nations. Canada has a long-running diplomatic and human-rights disagreement of its own with the Islamic Republic of Iran which has repeatedly threatened to destroy Israel.

And this year Canada has assumed the chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, comprised of government officials and historical experts from 31 nations.  It is a global alliance whose purpose is to foster and promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research around the world.

This year Canada, after becoming actively involved with the alliance in 2007 and a full member in 2009, was nominated to assume the leadership. A ceremony took place in Berlin on Tuesday with Belgium handing over the chairmanship to Canada. That position of chairman will be Canada's until 2014.

Among the priorities mentioned by Minister Kenney was expanding the alliance to additional countries. When the first Arab country joins the alliance it will represent one of those moments of awe in world history.

Ironically enough, anti-Semitism has risen dramatically around the world, and particularly in Europe. This is a cartoon recently published in Belgium, meant to accompany a conference planned for the discussion of Zionism, mounted by one of the major socialist government parties in the country, of which the prime minister is a member.









   

According to the Gatestone Institute and sources out of the Belgium government anti-Semitic abuse and violence in Belgium rose by 30% with 88 documented complaints, with the understanding that not all victims complain. What has trended in Belgium has similarly occurred elsewhere in Europe. The rise in incidents above nativist anti-Semitism as was shown in both France and Holland, is the growing presence of migrant Arab populations among whom hostility to Jews is endemic.