October 15, 2012: Students should be exposed to a full range of opinion in the Zionist conversation

By Michael Regenstreif

Mira Sucharov, a Carleton University professor who writes the Values, Ethics, Community column in the Bulletin, also has a blog called The Fifth Question on the website of the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz. Sucharov posted a column there on September 22 in which she alleges that “someone like me” would be banned from speaking at events sponsored by Hillel Ottawa, the organization representing and serving Jewish students at our local university and college campuses.

According to Sucharov, the ban is on instruction from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). CIJA, the successor organization to several advocacy agencies, including the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Canada Israel Committee, acts on behalf of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA and in partnership with the various local federations, including the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.

Sucharov made the charge after Hillel Ottawa apparently declined to sponsor an event for students with Peter Beinart, author of The Crisis of Zionism, who will be visiting Ottawa on October 23 as part of a three-city Canadian tour, which will also bring him to Montreal and Toronto. She said Hillel Ottawa consulted CIJA on whether to host Beinart and was instructed not to because Beinart advocates an economic boycott of Jewish settlements on the West Bank, what he calls a “Zionist BDS,” targeting the settlements but encouraging the economic support of Israel within the Green Line.

According to Sucharov, when she contacted CIJA to question the directive, Steve McDonald, CIJA’s Toronto-based associate director of communications, told her it was because of Beinart’s advocacy of “economic coercion” against the settlements.

Sucharov, herself, has endorsed Beinart’s call for a settlement boycott in her Haaretz blog and speculates, therefore, that she too would be unwelcome at Hillel events – or at events of other organizations influenced by CIJA.

As I point out in my review of Beinart’s book on page 20, I think his call for an economic boycott of the settlements is counterproductive. That point aside, I have absolutely no doubt he is a sincere and wholly committed Zionist dedicated to the pursuit of a two-state solution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, which will ensure Israel’s future as both a Jewish and democratic state. And, while I would argue with Beinart about the efficacy of one tactic he advocates, I think he has valuable things to say. I’m looking forward to hearing him speak at Temple Israel.

I think Hillel Ottawa, like any organization, has the right to engage or to decline to engage any speaker for whatever reason it chooses. For example, I wouldn’t expect a decidedly right-wing organization to present a speaker like Beinart or a decidedly left-wing organization to present a speaker like Daniel Pipes. However, despite any personal opinions I have about what such speakers have to say, I want to able to listen to both of them. I think it’s important that we – students and those of us well beyond student-age – be exposed to a full range of opinion. While I want to applaud speakers with whom I agree, I also want to be challenged in my thinking by those with whom I may disagree.

While I understand and share CIJA’s concern with the tactic Beinart advocates, I would have advised Hillel Ottawa, as the Jewish umbrella group for university students, to hold an event with Beinart – who has many valuable things to say, much of which CIJA would have little if any argument with – on the condition there be opportunity for questions and dialogue. Then, challenge Beinart on his call for a “Zionist BDS” and let him compete in the marketplace of ideas.