Discussion · Statements by Members
Anthony Housefather Liberal
“The Green Party in the United Kingdom voted to say it opposes Israel's right to exist. Zionism just means Jewish people have a right to their own country in their historic homeland. People can support that right and still criticize Israel's leaders. Opposing Israel's right to exist is a form of hating Jews. We must all speak out against this idea in Canada and around the world.”
“Madam Speaker, this weekend the U.K. Green Party adopted a motion declaring itself anti-Zionist, calling Zionism “racism” and calling for the dismantling of the state of Israel. Zionism is simply the belief that the Jewish people have a right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. One can be a Zionist and criticize Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and Israeli government policies. Many Zionists, including Israelis, do so every day. Let us be clear on what it means to be anti-Zionist. Anti-Zionism denies Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. It opposes the two-state solution that includes Israel. It is an ideology that is anti-Semitic at its core. It is the ideology of Hamas and those shamefully celebrating October 7 in our streets. That is why the Canadian government’s own framework for combatting anti-Semitism recognizes that anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism. There should be no place in Canada, the U.K. or any other country for a position that denies Israel’s right to exist. We must all speak out against it.”
Madam Speaker, this weekend the U.K. Green Party adopted a motion declaring itself anti-Zionist, calling Zionism “racism” and calling for the dismantling of the state of Israel. Zionism is simply the belief that the Jewish people have a right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. One can be a Zionist and criticize Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and Israeli government policies. Many Zionists, including Israelis, do so every day. Let us be clear on what it means to be anti-Zionist. Anti-Zionism denies Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. It opposes the two-state solution that includes Israel. It is an ideology that is anti-Semitic at its core. It is the ideology of Hamas and those shamefully celebrating October 7 in our streets. That is why the Canadian government’s own framework for combatting anti-Semitism recognizes that anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism. There should be no place in Canada, the U.K. or any other country for a position that denies Israel’s right to exist. We must all speak out against it.