Canadian Friends of Peace Now condemns attacks on the New Israel Fund

February, 2010

TORONTO—[February 10, 2010]--Canadian Friends of Peace Now strongly condemns the vicious attacks on the New Israel Fund, on its Chair, Naomi Chazan, and on the NIF's grantee organizations which are quoted in the United Nations fact-finding mission's report on last year's Gaza war. 

In recent days, an Israeli right-wing organization launched a vile campaign to discredit the New Israel Fund, its chair and some of its grantee organizations. This attack includes ad hominem attacks against Professor Chazan in newspaper ads that show the former Knesset Member with a horn on her forehead. 

We are deeply disturbed by the content of this campaign and shocked by its style, which is reminiscent of dark times in our people's history. 

The NIF grantees that are quoted in the UN report on Operation Cast Lead were performing their duty as Israeli human rights organizations by monitoring and reporting on controversial policies of their government and their military. Such human rights organizations are an integral part of any vibrant democracy and as such, they are an integral - and vital - part of Israel's civil society.

The New Israel Fund is an asset to Israel's democracy, as are its grantee organizations. Attempts to silence them should not be tolerated by the Israeli public and by friends of a free and democratic Israel worldwide. 

We call on all friends of Israel to join us in denouncing and rejecting these contemptible  attempts to muzzle Israel's civil society groups, and we urge civility in debates over public policy.  ♦


Canadian Friends of Peace Now
119-660 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 517
Toronto, Ontario M4G 2K2
416-322-5559 (Off)
1-866-405-5387 (Toll Free)
416-322-5587 (Fax)

 

In the News


Peace Now Ottawa
March 14, 2010
Guest Speaker
Neil Caplan
|

Only An Idiot Would Say that Israel Has Frozen Settlement activity
Akiva Eldar (Ha'aretz)

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Would Neutralize the Iranian threat
A.B. Yehoshua
(Ha'aretz)

The New Leader
by Zvi Barel, Ha'aretz

There is no new peace plan, no new proposals and no pressure at all.

Israel considers giving legal status to two illegal West Bank outposts

Analysis: Asad's New Regional Stategy Creates Fresh Options
By Moshe Maoz, Jerusalem Post January 11, 2009

Provocation in East Jerusalem
Ha'aretz Editorial, Jan 8, 2010

Clinton Pushes to Revive Peace Talks
Washington Post, Jan.9, 2010

Settler Violence Surging: AFPN Documenting and Cautioning

Peace Now Protests against Residential Complex in E. Jerusalem
YNet, Jan.8, 2010

A New Freezing Point

Shaul Arieli, Ha'aretz, Ja 5, 2010

CBS 60 Minutes Report:
Time Running Out for a Two-State Solution? [video]


> NYTimes: Amos Elon's Warning on Settlements

Ha'aretz: Former Chief Justice Barak regrets house demolitions

YNET: Peace Now "New government does not represent unity, but extremism"


Ha'aretz: Barak ignored settlement expansion

Washington Post: Guest Voice: Time to draw the line on settlements

New Yorker: Syria Calling

YNET: Israel Marks 30 Years of Peace with Egypt

NYTimes: The Fierce Urgency of Peace

Netanyahu & Lieberman strike secret deal for West Bank construction

Ir Amim: Seeds of Contention in King David's Garden

Ha'aretz: Egypt is not celebrating 30 years of peace with Israel

Peace Now: Who is realizing the right of return in Jerusalem?

Ha'aretz: Soldiers Talk, after Gaza, 2009


NYTimes: A conflict of values


Ynet: Rights groups demand end to E.Jerusalem demolitions

Washington Post: Jersualemite bulldozes his home

Guardian: home demolition and its aftermath slide presentation

Ha'aretz Editorial: Planned E. Jerusalem House demolitions are unwise and unjust.

Secretary Clinton Criticises Israel's plans to expand settlements

Washington Post: Jerusalem Mayor dismisses Clinton criticism of demolition plan

Israel Prize laureates urge end to demolition of E. Jerusalem homes

Gorenberg: What Bibi faces in liberated Washington

NYTimes: West Bank land as quarry for Israeli companies is challenged

'Waltz with Bashir' director makes animation about Gaza restrictions

Israel's pick for Eurosong festival draws criticism

Radio Report on Water & the Middle East , CBC's The Current