New chapter of Independent Jewish Voices founded in New Brunswick

A newly-formed chapter of Independent Jewish Voices in New Brunswick hopes to bring greater nuance to discussions about Israel and its war in the Gaza Strip. 

Israel faces accusations of genocide against Palestinians at the International Court of Justice, but Israeli officials say those claims as antisemitic. And here in New Brunswick, Palestine solidarity protesters have faced accusations of antisemitism or terrorist sympathies. 

“As a Jewish person, I do not believe it’s antisemitic to critique the state of Israel,” said Leslie Kern, a feminist urban scholar who is part of the group. 

“In fact, I feel it’s part of my duty as a Jewish person who has a moral obligation to work towards to tikkun olam — the repair of the world — to hold Israel to just as high a standard as we hold any other nation state, and to raise very serious questions about the practices that they are engaging in, in Gaza, as well as the West Bank,” Kern said. 

Independent Jewish Voices Canada, founded in 2008, argues that branding principled criticism of Israel as antisemitic undermines the fight against anti-Jewish hatred. 

The group describes itself as a “grassroots organization grounded in Jewish tradition that opposes all forms of racism and advocates for justice and peace in Israel-Palestine.” 

The group has chapters in cities across the country and at several universities, but none existed until recently in New Brunswick. 

“At the moment, we’re a small but mighty group with representatives of people from many regions across the province who are meeting regularly,” said Kern, director of Women’s and Gender Studies at Mount Allison University. 

The new IJV chapter formed in New Brunswick amid a spike in reports of hate-motivated incidents, including vandalism at the Sgoolai Israel Synagogue in Fredericton on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

The Palestine Solidarity Committee of Saint John has stated that its members have experienced at least “two physical attacks” during protests since the outbreak of war. 

Kern condemned anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hatred, saying they’re “both part of white supremacist ideologies that we have to stand together to face down rather than dividing ourselves.”

Examples include a heated confrontation between MP Wayne Long and Palestine solidarity protesters who were calling for a ceasefire. 

Footage that circulated on social media shows the Liberal politician and a member of his staff telling the protesters, “shame on you.” 

At one point, the staffer exclaims “terrorists” before telling protesters: “You guys believe in terrorism.” In a separate short clip, she appears to tell someone, “If you don’t like Canada, leave.”

Long later issued a statement on social media expressing regret for comments targetting the protesters. 

Kern said the incident revealed “both an ignorance and a prejudice about this situation, and a broader anti-immigrant prejudice that really should have no place in the government.”

Meanwhile, Premier Blaine Higgs has made “principled support for Israel” a central feature on his re-election campaign website. 

“Our country is witnessing an alarming rise in antisemitic protests, designed to pressure politicians and governments into moral compromise,” the website states. “Thankfully, Premier Higgs stands with Israel — demonstrating that he is a leader we can trust.”

Kern called on the Premier to reassess his approach to the issue. “I would really urge Premier Higgs to listen again to this variety of voices, both from the Jewish community and the Palestinian community.”

Premier Higgs and the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick didn’t respond to a request for comment on Thursday.  

By Wednesday, Israeli attacks in Gaza had killed at least 29,313 people in Gaza, including at least 12,300 children, while the Israeli death toll reached at least 1,139 people, according to figures compiled by Al Jazeera.

David Gordon Koch is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Stations and Users (CACTUS).