Government Support of 'Anti-Palestinian Racism' Risks Undermining Canadian Jewish Rights

Ottawa, ON – November 8, 2024 – In response to the announcement made by the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia about the Prime Minister’s support of “Anti-Palestinian Racism” (APR), the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) expressed serious concerns regarding the concept that risks undermining protections for Jewish Canadians and could misuse human rights laws to advance political narratives that silence Jewish voices. 

“Adopting APR would be a grievous error,” said Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO and President, CIJA. “All Canadians, including Palestinian Canadians, are entitled to full protection under Canada’s robust human rights laws, but APR goes beyond addressing discrimination and aims to restrict legitimate expressions of Jewish identity and support for Israel.” 

APR, a term promoted by groups with well-known anti-Jewish agendas, conflates political opinions about Israel with racism, a stance that goes against the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism adopted by the Canadian government and multiple provinces. APR defines even basic expressions of Jewish identity and support for Israel as discriminatory, which is incompatible with Canada’s commitment to human rights and equality. 

CIJA has engaged directly with the federal government on this issue, calling on the Prime Minister to reject APR and ensure that Canadian policy protects the free expression of all communities without infringing upon Jewish identity or silencing voices within Canada’s Jewish community. CIJA’s engagement has also included correspondence and meetings with key government representatives to advocate for consistent, inclusive, human rights protections.  

In recent months, the concept of APR has appeared in institutional settings, including the Toronto District School Board and the House of Commons Justice Committee. “It has been used each time to stigmatize and to exclude Jews, to attack them and Jewish identity. This is especially true in areas where Jews are vulnerable, such as K-12, on university campuses, and in unions, where it has led to toxic environments in which Jews and those who support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself no longer feel safe,” said Fogel  

APR not only overlaps with existing protections for Arab and Muslim Canadians but also attempts to establish a specific political stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a human rights standard. 

APR’s proponents have called expressions such as the belief in Jewish self-determination – Zionism – forms of racism. Under APR’s framework, symbols of Jewish identity, such as the Israeli flag, could also be considered “erasure of Palestinian-ness,” which APR defines as racist. 

“APR is not a matter of human rights, but a political tool that seeks to entrench specific narratives about Israel while stigmatizing Jewish voices. Human rights law cannot and should not be used to delegitimize one community’s heritage, identity, and beliefs to the advantage of another,” Fogel added. 

CIJA is urging the Canadian government to: 

1. Reject APR, recognizing that, given the protections already available under Canadian human rights law, APR is unnecessary and duplicative. 
2. Preserve IHRA standards, ensuring that the IHRA definition of antisemitism remains unchallenged as an important tool for identifying and addressing antisemitism. 
3. Protect free expression, upholding Canadians’ right to engage in civil discourse on complex issues, including support for Israel, without fear of being labeled discriminatory. 

“APR contradicts Canadian values by pitting communities against one another and distorting human rights law to advance a single viewpoint. We urge the government to maintain a balanced and fair approach that respects all communities while safeguarding freedom of expression,” said Fogel. 

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Additional Background 

• Statement: CIJA Disappointed by TDSB Failure to Address Antisemitism in Proposed Strategy for Combating Hate and Racism
• Statement: "TDSB Trustees Must Vote NO" - CHR Ignores Antisemitism
• Op-ed : Shimon Koffler Fogel: The push to define anti-Palestinian racism is not about fighting discrimination
• CIJA Resources: Ten major concerns with the concept of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR)
• CIJA Priorities: Recognize that anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism
• The IHRA non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
  Full details and contemporary examples of antisemitism can be found here.