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.  ♦