Can one believe that in 2017, a Canadian
Institution of higher learning is still engaged in Anti-Semitism, discrimination,
and a follower of fake news etc. There was a polite protest, and in response, a
very weak apology and correction. However, one must ask what is in the water that
this institution is drinking. Where do such outrageous attitudes come from? There is a deep problem. We are not living in 1933 Nazi Germany. Certainly, social awareness, human decency,
and human rights laws, have evolved since then? I suppose not, at the Island School of
Building Arts (ISBA) British Columbia. Since when did hate behaviour require “significant
thought and listening to all interested parties” for corrective action? PF
***********************************
from CIJA
Dear Supporter:
This morning, I was absolutely
outraged to read the news that an Israeli applicant to the Island School of
Building Arts (ISBA) in British Columbia was told that it was refusing all
applications from Israel due to “conflict and illegal settlement activity in
the region”.
In my thirty years of working for
our community, I have never come across a single incident of a Canadian school
adopting such a policy. This is why I wanted to ensure we had an accurate
understanding of the facts of the incident. CIJA’s team in Vancouver quickly
contacted the school to express our deep concern and determine if the school
had a policy of boycotting Israeli applicants.
Shockingly, in its reply to
CIJA’s intervention, the school openly admitted that they boycotted Israeli
applicants – and that they are reversing this policy immediately. The final
exchange between the school and our Pacific Region Director, Nico Slobinsky,
may be read below.
This incident has seized and
unified our community, and we note that other community organizations engaged
and took action parallel to our efforts. While we are pleased that swift
intervention has led to a positive outcome, this incident is emblematic of the
dangers of BDS. I won’t mince words: this was a disgusting and shameful attempt
to ban an Israeli simply for being Israeli. We cannot and will not let such
blatant discrimination go unchallenged.
This incident also affirms the
importance of relationship-building with elected officials at all levels. We
are thankful that we have such a strong champion for expanding BC-Israel ties
in the Government of BC. We have raised this matter with officials in the BC
Ministry of Advanced Education. We will update them accordingly, continue to
voice our alarm regarding the fact that this school had such a policy in the
first place, and explore additional avenues of accountability.
At the same time, the rapid
nature of today’s developments reminds me that the world moves faster than ever
before. In a digital age in which a single individual or incident can garner
international headlines in minutes, it is more important than ever that we
remain vigilant and strategic in identifying, exposing, and confronting those
who seek to isolate the Jewish State.
Sincerely, Shimon Koffler Fogel CIJA
CEO
***************************************************
Response from the Island School
of Building Arts
Mr. Slobinsky,
After significant thought and
listening to all interested parties, ISBA has decided to rescind any
restriction placed on accepting students from Israel
and apologize for any inconvenience.
ISBA remains acceptant to all and
will continue to do so without restrictions.
Regards Patricia Rokosh
***************************************************
Letter from CIJA to the Island
School of Building Arts
We write to express our deep
concern about emerging reports on print and social media to the effect that an
Israeli student has been denied an application to study at your school due to
“conflict and illegal settlement activity in the (Middle East) region”. If this
is indeed the case, we would like you to inform us of how and by whom was this
decision made? It appears that ISBA is actively discriminating against Israeli
nationals based on their place of origin, ancestry, and/or religion.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish
Affairs (CIJA) is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated
to improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada by advancing the public
policy interests of Canada’s organized Jewish community. We combat antisemitism
and discrimination in all its forms and advocate for fundamental rights and
freedoms.
We look forward to hearing from
you at your earliest convenience.
Respectfully Yours, Nico
Slobinsky Director, CIJA, Pacific Region
Jason Z. Murray Pacific Region Chair, CIJA
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