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Israel Connections
Divesting from Israel
Tax dollars did not fund recent conference: CIDA.
RON CSILLAG CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
Afederal agency denies an allegation from Stock-well Day, the Conservative party of Canada's foreign affairs critic, that tax dollars were used to help fund a Toronto conference on divesting from Israel.
In a recent statement. Day not-, ed that among the four-day conference's sponsors was Toronto-based KAIROS, the Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, whicli "lias received $2.9 million from the Canadian International Development Agency [QDA] over the past two years, despite the stance that it has taken firmly on one side of the [Middle East] debate.
■•It is inappropriate for taxpayer dollars that are supposed to be used for humanitarian aid to be directed at campaigns attacking Israel," Day stated.
Day also wrote to Aileen Carroll, Canada's minister of international co-operation, and federal Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, raising the same issues.
He pointed out that the Oct. 26-29 pro-divestment conference in Toronto was organized by the Canadian Friends of Sabeel, whose parent group, the Jerusalem-based Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre, "has been criticized broadly for indifference to the security concerns of Israel and for [its] uncritical support of tlie Palestinian cause."
Day asked tlie government why it was supporting "only one side of the Middle East dispute" and what was being done "to ensure an equitable representation of the situation." He also wanted to know wliat steps Ottawa will take "to stop tlie taxpayer funding of groups lobbying for Israel's disinvestment."
Eleonora Karabaric, a spokesperson for CIDA, said no tax dollars were spent on the Sabeel conference.
"Tliere were no CIDA funds used for this event," Karabatic said.
She said KAIROS, a coalition of church groups committed to social justice issues, receives funds from CIDA, but tliat stria mles prohibit spending for partisan or political purposes.
Asked how it is possible to monitor KAIROS's spending, Karabatic said all beneficiaries of CIDA funds must account for every penny spent.
"Wliatever we do fund has to be accountable," Karabatic said. "CIDA takes tliat very seriously."
She said the federal agency does provide funding for KAIROS, "but for other programs."
From 2003 through 2006, CIDA's contribution to KAIROS will total $3.3 million. Karabatic
noted tliat CIDA money goes toward specific projects, including working with Palestinian and Israeli women on peace-building and training people in human rights protection.
Day was attending the Summit of tlie Americas conference in Argentina last week and was unavailable to comment on CIDA's response to his charges.
Mary Corkery, executive director of KAIROS, said she was offended by Day's statement because it was incorrect.
"Had he called us beforehand, he would have known that [his allegation] was untrue. No CIDA funds were used by KAIROS [to help fund the Sabeel conference]."
Corkery said her organization has no position on divestment.
"We support the state of Israel and a just state for Palestinians. We tliink Israel's occupation is a violation of human rights. Tliat's not tlie same as being against Israel. Our position is consistent with international law."
KAIROS also funds a peace project in Israel called Bat Shalom, she noted. , .
The Sabeel conference, which was dubbed "A Call for Morally Responsible Investment: A Nonviolent Response to the Israeli Occupation," was sponsored by more than 50 churcli, para-church, peace and community groups, including about five Jewish ones, in addition to the United Church of Canada, the country's largest Protestant denomination. It featured at least one address by the head of Sabeel, 68-year-old Anglican Canon Naim Ateek, who has been widely denounced by Jewish and Christian activists for vilifying Jews and Israel.
Crirics say Ateek regularly infuses his talks witli language tliat invokes Jewish complicity in the crucifixion of Jesus. At the Toronto conference, Ateek reportedly called for anotlier intifada, "like tiie first. Tlie first was nonviolent, the • second was primarily armed. Palestinians need a nonviolent revolution - anotlier intifada." Ateek was reported to have said that "some" demonstrators "will be violent. You can't qontrol everyone."
Four American Christian leaders, who came to Toronto during the Sabeel conference to warn Canadian churches against taking ; part in the American-led divestment drive, conceded tliat, to date, no church funds have actually been divested from Israel. However, tliey stressed tliat just as important as fighring divestment is countering the anti-Israel propaganda tliat the campaign has produced. S
Harold Zlotnlk, CJ.U.
Garry Zlotnlk, OA., CJ.U
Mark Zlotnlk, CA., CUV.
Martin Zlotnlk, ULA
Lynnc Rae Zk>tnlk, aEd, EPC
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