NDP could be in for divisive Israel-Palestine debate

New NDP leader Jagmeet Singh would probably prefer to avoid a public debate over Israel and Palestine at the party’s policy convention in Ottawa this week, but forces both outside and inside the party will probably make that impossible. Party members will be looking to see what attitude Mr. Singh has toward this issue. As a member of the Ontario legislature, he was one of the few people to oppose a resolution condemning the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement meant to put pressure on Israel (BDS). However, some NDP party members note that he took a free weeklong trip to Israel last year organized and funded by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a pro-Israel lobby group. Historically, NDP policy on this issue has been based on the assumption that the answer lies in a two-state solution (“peaceful, co-existence in viable, independent states with agreed-upon borders“). But the very idea of a “two-state solution” (a Jewish state and an Arab state), is looking ever less likely as Israel builds more settlements and Israeli politicians are increasingly open about their rejection of the idea of any Palestinian state. Competing pressures inside the party Last summer, a group of 80 academics and activist members of the NDP sent an open letter to the party leadership candidates arguing it was “time for the NDP stand with Palestine.” Strong statements in support of Palestinian human rights have also come from some of the NDP’s important institutional supporters including Unifor, the largest private sector union in Canada, and the Canadian Labour Congress. In the last several months, a draft “Palestine resolution” has been circulated widely within the party. Yazan Khader, one of those behind it, claims the resolution has received support from over 23 riding associations, and more are expected. The draft resolution uses rather cautious language and is moderate in tone. Most of it calls for the applications of policies that are Canada’s official but rarely applied positions, calling on Israel to "end its occupation and settlement program, lift the Gaza blockade, recognize its Arab-Palestinian citizens’ right to full equality, and address refugee claims fairly.” However, it does call for an outright ban on goods produced in the Israeli settlements, which will make Israel’s defenders hostile. Already the reaction to the proposal has shown how volatile the Israel-Palestine issue can be for a political party, and how quickly tempers can rise on both sides. One eager Palestinian human rights advocate writing on social media speculated excitedly that perhaps the NDP was about to become “the first Canadian federal party to support the movement to boycott Israel, known as BDS.” On the other hand, an article in the Canadian Jewish News warned jittery Canadian Jews “NDP to debate BDS motion at its National Convention in Ottawa.” Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal was so concerned that it denounced the resolution and urged Singh to stop it from even being presented at all. Waving the BDS “bogeyman” will of course make many NDP members nervous. It will also scare the leadership. But in fact, an endorsement of BDS seems rather unlikely, as the “Palestine resolution” does not mention BDS at all and its call to ban settlement goods falls well short of the BDS call to boycott all goods produced by Israel. ‘Two states’ or just ‘human rights’? There seems to be growing pressure in the NDP to replace its commitment to an ever less likely two-state solution with a stronger stance on Palestinian human rights. It is no secret that the NDP membership is increasingly unhappy with Israeli actions, and generally feels sympathy for the Palestinians. But it remains divided on the issue of what to do about it. Some want to take firm action. Others hesitate, concerned perhaps about security for Israeli Jews or the inevitable accusations of anti-Semitism if they stiffen their critique of Israeli actions. The leadership, including Singh and Hélène Laverdière, the NDP foreign policy critic, will likely prefer one of the other less-strident resolutions being sent to the convention, perhaps calling for goods from the illegal Israeli settlements (including wine) to be “labelled” rather than imposing an outright ban. Shimon Fogel, president of CIJA, recently told his members that he is working privately with several senior members of the NDP caucus to ensure “extreme left” elements are not successful in influencing NDP policy. Several NDP caucus members openly identify themselves as “friends” of Israel and participate in the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group. NDP caucus members Randall Garrison and Murray Rankin are both on its executive committee. It will be interesting to see what role they play in the upcoming convention. Given the intense interest in the subject, and apparently growing sympathy among the NDP base for the Palestinian plight, a stiffening of NDP policy on Israel-Palestine seems very likely. The question is: how far will it go? Peter Larson is the chair of Canada Talks Israel/Palestine, an Ottawa-based non-governmental organization focused on promoting a thoughtful discussion of Canada’s policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Hill Times

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NDP could be in for divisive Israel-Palestine debate

A resolution is set to be debated at this week’s convention that touches on a boycott of some Israeli goods. Campaigns for and against have already begun.

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