Violence in Canada

Supporting Israel can be hazardous to your health. We tend to think of Canada as a pretty mild country (well, I do at least), so this story from ynet hadashot is even more surprising:

A student activist, supporter of Israel, and his friend, also known as an Israel supporter, were attacked Sunday at Carlton University near the Canadian capital, Ottawa.

They were subject to anti-Semitic curses and even threatened with a machete, and felt lucky to have survived the onslaught, they said. The incident was widely covered in the press and even reached national news channels.

Usually, when we’re talking about Israel-related violence, we’re talking about actions in the Middle East. Don’t get me wrong: the conflict certainly incites strong reactions globally. When I was a Jewish leader at CU, tensions ran high when Israel made controversial moves. Palestinian support groups took their message to campus, and they did not exactly hide their opinions of the Jewish state. Across the way stood a group of Israel supporters, angry at the characterization of our beloved homeland.

Both sides misunderstood each other. Extremists on each side shouted foul curses across the concrete. Not once, however, did someone cross that sacred line. Inappropriate exclamations are one thing; violence is entirely different. Though I was known as a leader on campus, never did I fear for my physical well-being as a result of my support for Israel.

Non-profit organizations, particularly religious ones, do a lot of Israel advocacy. The networking of these groups worldwide provides the backbone of popular support for the Jewish state. Many NPOs give us tools do deal with anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.

For those against Israel, it can hardly be denied that a multitude of organizations exists by which these sentiments can be expressed. Even if we find some of their methods offensive (take “Israel Apartheid Week” for example), there is an understanding that, as advocates for one side or the other, we will not engage in the cycle of violence.

Even in isolated incidents like the one in Canada, we can see how thin the line between advocacy and felony is. When we take our message to the streets, whatever message that may be, we must remember this story. We can never get angry enough to become violent. We cannot advocate for a reasonable solution to the conflict in the Middle East by being unreasonable.