The Theft of the Left, Part I: What's left of progressive Zionists in Canada?

In recent years, particularly in Canada, support for Israel in the West has been strongly linked to right-wing political parties and movements. For various reasons, from a need to win strategic ridings, the desire to appease large numbers of Evangelical Christians and perhaps the more admirable reason of simply supporting another democracy, right-wing politicians have sought to associate themselves with stances unequivocally in support of Israel.

Meanwhile, major left of centre parties in Canada support Israel’s right to exist and it’s right to self determination, but are nonetheless critical of some Israeli policies on a case by case basis, rather than representing a whole-heartedly “one-sided” approach to what is a complicated and ever-changing situation.

The “hard-left” however, particularly represented by organizations in the labour movement, several student governments mostly connected with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and a variety of campus coalitions, have subscribed to a radically more virulent form of criticism against Israel. Their attacks on Israel, as many students can attest, have gone well beyond restrained criticisms against particular Israeli policies; they have called for Israeli academics to be purged from Canadian campuses, for the isolation of Israel internationally and increasingly, for the outright destruction of the Jewish State. In some more outrageous cases, we have even seen calls for the murder of Israelis/Jews with signs calling for intifada.

Extremists on the left have drowned out or forced into silence their Zionist colleagues, effectively forcing thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish supporters of Israel to distance themselves, or leave entirely, progressive political, labour and social movements in which they once found a home. This is particularly devastating for the many grassroots Jews who have long supported progressive movements throughout Canada’s history while being Zionists. At one time, these associations were not only reconcilable, but in fact were decidedly complimentary.

While progressive values are present throughout Jewish religious history, emancipation movements in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment brought together thinkers and activists in a fight for equality, liberty and freedom, regardless of religion and it was in this movement that many European Jews found a political and ideological home. During European industrialization, the Jewish working class became active in the organization of labour in Eastern and Western Europe. It is from this lineage that progressive, social values came with many Jews along with their heritage and longing for a Jewish State to North America.

In helping to build Canada, many Jewish immigrants were integral in the building of Canada’s social democratic left, from the early organizers of Toronto’s and Winnipeg’s trade union movement, to the rise of David and Stephen Lewis in the 1960’s and 1970’s to the leadership the New Democratic Party at both the federal and provincial level.

This history makes all the more painful the shunting out of Zionists from Canada’s left-wing movements. For many Zionists, the violent and hateful extremism exhibited by their colleagues towards the Jewish State, and increasingly against Judaism, has made association with Canada’s left virtually intolerable.

But should this be the case? Is support for Israel and progressive values in Canada mutually exclusive? Over the years, being a progressive Canadian and an active supporter of Israel has not been easy, but it has also not been hard to reconcile. Here are my top ten reasons for supporting the only social democratic government in the Middle East:

- The early Zionist movement largely involved socialists from Eastern Europe, and the Yishuv (early settlement in Palestine) was led largely by socialists.

- Socialist values became as much a part of the fabric of early Israeli ideals as did Zionism. The Kibbutz movement, which was integral to Jewish settlement in Palestine, was an early attempt at practical socialism which continues today.

- The Histradut, “General Federation of Labourers in the Land of Israel”, was the largest single institution responsible for the early growth of the State of Israel, and was at one time the country’s single largest employer.

- Israel has two powerful social democratic parties, Labour and Meretz, which are both members of the International Socialist movement.

- Israel’s founding Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, along with many of Israel’s most celebrated Prime Ministers including Shimon Peres, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin, have all been leaders of social democratic parties.

- 57% of all Israeli academic degrees are awarded to women.

- Israel has uniform and compulsory healthcare. All Israelis are entitled to the same uniform benefits package, regardless of their financial means.

- Over 90% of Israeli homes use solar energy for hot water, the highest per capita in the world.

- Until 2007, Israel was the only country in Asia where homosexuals were protected by anti-discrimination laws. Israel remains the only country in the Middle East to provide legal protection to homosexuals.

- In 2007, Israel saw a nationwide student strike after the government imposed a single tuition fee increase. Marking just the most recent demonstration in one of world’s most active students’ rights movements.

It is paradoxical to me that trade unions and student groups in Canada are those most virulently opposed to the State of Israel. No other country in the region comes close to espousing the progressive values exhibited by Israeli government policy and culture. While I will always support openly criticizing the policies of all governments, I cannot tolerate the virulent anti-Israel movement that has corroded the Left in Canada.

I think it is time that Canadian social democrats reach out a hand in peace to their brothers and sisters in solidarity in Israel, instead of raising their fists.