ARZA Canada Condemns Im Tirtzu Incitement Video as a Dangerous Threat to Israeli Citizens' Security and Civil Rights; Calls for Jewish Communal Unity to Defend Democracy and Human Rights in the Jewish State.
(December 18, 2015) Toronto -- Responding to a video released from the extremist Israeli movement Im Tirtzu that incites viewers against four Israeli Non-Governmental Organizations -- declaring them traitors, "foreign plants" of European governments, and supporters of terrorism - ARZA Canada, the Zionist wing of the Canadian Reform Movement, issues the following statement:
Im Tirztu cloaks itself in the language of Zionism but takes actions that strikes at the heart of the Zionist vision of a secure homeland for the Jewish people within a democratic state of Israel.
ARZA Canada as a Zionist organization that embraces the diverse views of Canadian Reform Jews is adamant that the pre-requisite for any successful Zionist vision is a commitment to democracy and civil society in Israel.
ARZA Canada unequivocally condemns Im Tirtzu's dangerous incitement against NGOs and their staff. Im Tirtzu's actions are a direct threat to Israel's democracy and contrary to Israel's founding vision to "foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants... be based on freedom, justice ... ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex...guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture..."
In these turbulent and dangerous times, words of incitement from Im Tirtzu can have tragic consequences for both the safety of the NGO workers and their supporters amongst Israeli citizens. Moreover, this video adds to a growing culture of incitement within Israel and the Palestinian territories -- one that is strengthened by divisive and irresponsible statements by government ministers and Members of the Knesset -- which is already leading to violence.
