Anti-Semitism redefined. (Canada).

Toronto--The military invasion of Palestinian cities and areas, which began during the last week of March 2002, has led to world-wide polarization. One consequence has been the re-definition of anti-Semitism by many Jewish spokespeople and organizations to include opposition to Israeli policies and to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. It makes civil discourse about Israel wellnigh impossible.

Catholic Insight regrets and rejects anti-Semitic acts of any kind, whether it is vandalizing Jewish houses of worship or cemeteries, or denigrating attacks--verbal or physical--on Jewish persons, or racist and discriminatory actions.

However, we do not accept the redefinition of anti-Semitism to include criticism of Israel, its leaders, or its policies. This includes Jewish counterattacks on the media such as the Toronto Star for presumably being biased against Israel. In our opinion, that newspaper has done an outstanding job in presenting both sides, in stark contrast to the Jewish-owned National Post which over the last year has banished news coverage of Israeli attacks against Palestinians, while printing extensive news coverage of Palestinian attacks on Israel, accompanied by reams of columns, editorials and opinion pieces lauding Israel and attacking Palestinians.