Terrorist organization that planned to bomb Concordia University advised Canadian government to ban MP George Galloway
By Scott Weinstein
March 29, 2009
An organization that planned to blow up Concordia University, and that the FBI, the U.S. State Department, and U.S. courts have branded a 'terrorist organization', has given advice to the Harper government that led Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to barring a British MP from Canada.
A Kenney spokesman said Kenney first heard about British MP George Galloway's visit from a Jewish Defense League (JDL) March 16 letter.
The Jewish Defense League, is categorized by the FBI as a “right-wing Jewish terrorist group”, founded in 1968 by ultra Zionist Meir Kahane. Kanahe then founded the terrorist group Khach in Israel. JDL leader Meir Weinstein (no relation to the author) boasts of getting the Canadian government to ban Galloway.
Mr. Galloway, labelled a terrorist threat by the Conservative government, is freely touring the U.S. now. Galloway is scheduled to speak in four Canadian cities from March 30 to April 2 on "Resisting War from Gaza to Kandahar". He plans to speak against the Conservative government’s war in Afghanistan and uncritical support for Israel, which is why his Canadian defenders - and even some opponents - feel he is banned from speaking here.
The JDL can now claim further success because Concordia University just forbade a planned Galloway live video feed into their auditorium, citing Canada’s banning his entry into the country.
The JDL’s well documented history of terrorism
It is impossible that the Harper government is unaware that the JDL’s terrorism designation given how earnestly Canada and the US share such information, and how public information of some of their dozens of domestic terror acts is. (See http://www.adl.org/extremism/jdl_chron.asp )
The US State Department designated the JDL’s Israeli affiliates, Kach, founded by Kahane, and the Kahane Chai, named in honor of Kahane after his murder, as “foreign terrorist organizations” – a decision recently upheld by a US Appeals Court. The Israeli Cabinet declared them terrorist organizations in 1994.
Baruch Goldstein massacred 29 Palestinians praying in a mosque in Hebron. The Jewish Defense League’s states, “We view Dr. Goldstein as a martyr in Judaism's protracted struggle against Arab terrorism. And we are not ashamed to say that Goldstein was a charter member of the Jewish Defense League”.
The JDL is still active with Hebron’s Jewish settlers, most visibly remarkable for its hate graffiti such as: “Arabs to the Gas Chambers”.
In a 1986 study of domestic terrorism, the US Department of Energy concluded: “For more than a decade, the Jewish Defense League (JDL) has been one of the most active terrorist groups in the United States. Since 1968, JDL operations have killed 7 persons and wounded at least 22.”
Despite their terrorist designation, and the post 9-11 war on terror, JDL leaders, members and chapters still function unhindered by security agencies in North America. One can only attribute it to the similarity between the JDL’s ideology and our governments’ Middle East and Muslim policies.
In 2001, JDL leader, Canadian Irv Rubin and another member were convicted of planning a terror attack in California against an Arab American congressman and a mosque. Rubin was also accused of planning to bomb Concordia University. Both JDL members were murdered in prison, although authorities claim Rubin’s slashed neck and two-story fall was a suicide.
Rubin’s death appeared to be the end of the JDL in North America.
The JDL resurfaces in fertile Canada
Canadian Jewish critics of Israel have noted the Harper government’s numerous unholy alliances to contain opponents of its Middle East and Afghanistan policies. Some believe that the little known Canada-Israel Security Agreement maybe behind the Galloway ban. Certainly, the Conservatives have provided a political terrain that is now fertile for the JDL to operate.
It is contemptible that the Conservative government for “national security reasons” bans outspoken anti-war critic and Palestinian supporter British MP George Galloway while allowing a known terrorist organization a free pass to operate in Canada and advise their policies.
Given that Concordia University’s Security Department is run by a former RCMP officer, we should question their readiness to accept such a politicized chain of events leading to the University banning the Galloway video feed.
The recent past appears forgotten and forgiven for the JDL, which resurfaced in Toronto two years ago. Meir Weinstein answered the question by The Jewish Press if the JDL in Toronto adheres to the ideology of Meir Kahane? "I will always be a loyal disciple of Rabbi Kahane. Our ideology is based on the Jewish Idea as taught by Rabbi Kahane."
Last year Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) leader Bernie Farber’s opinion on the JDL was “they have the right to exist” as long as they behave. The Canadian Jewish News on March 20, 2009 wrote the “ CJC commends government for denying George Galloway entry to Canada”.
The Jewish B’nai Brith and the JDL both targeted the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) in 2007 to prevent them from debating a motion critical of Israel. The JDL is now going after the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) for similar reasons. Liberal aide Warren Kinsella appeared last week at a meeting organized by the JDL as a surprise guest.
In last week’s interview on British Channel 4 TV with George Galloway, JDL leader Meir Weinstein threatened any Canadian who attended or supported Galloway’s presentation would be “monitored” by the Canadian government. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAm7rfHKSyY)
Perhaps the Conservative government is testing whether Canadians still care about their rights, or Canada’s policies in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Canada sinks into infamy when its government labels its enemies terrorist, while coddling its allies who are real terrorists.
8 comments:
James, after posting such a critical stuff on JDL you better watch out your back ;)
What the hell is Kinsella doing there?
Excellent article!
What the hell is Kinsella doing there?
WK has had various affiliation with Jewish groups in the past. He's very pro-Israel (as witnessed by the Liberal party shift) and I would phantom in his financial interests.
WK has been in the news an awful lot - complaining about certain people on junkets and guest on TV...
Thoughtful post. Glad to see you are reconsidering the Anxious Liberal decision. I voted for returning the blogger.
How Liberal is it to emulate the grip of the Conservative Party of Canada? Is Democracy about being another bobbing head in our House of Commons?
My thoughts only represent one of the hardily sought after swing vote come election time. Just wanted to make that clear.
Holy COW. I saw that interview with the JDL guy and Galloway, and wondered at his frankly threatening language.
But I hadn't made the connection between his organization and the terrorist one. This just makes the Galloway decision even more bizarre and unconscionable.
(I won't speak on the connection between Kinsella and the group, except to note that I will remember it.)
Let's keep this simple. Next election, Canadians need to shout out to Calgarians:
"ANYONE BUT KEN-NEY!"
My concerns..
Tactically, the Liberal party has to be extremely careful of taking a stance that may result in being labeled, fairly or not, as "anti-Semetic".. and some of Galloway's hyperbole seems to cross that line.. to, a friend of my enemy.. well, you know.
More importantly.. because I may speak against a terrorist doesn't necessarily mean I'M not a terrorist.
I applaud your commentary on the JDL and I agree that the wholesale acceptance of Israel's position by many is an error and serves to make resolution in the middle-east more difficult.
However - Hamas is clearly a terrorist organization. They support indiscriminate killing of Israeli's and in fact, have their own death squads who summarily execute those they deem "enemies" in their own territory.
Galloway is an avowed supporter of Hamas and it was widely suggested and not refuted that he would seek to obtain support for Hamas while in Canada.
So - in other words.. the fact that the JDL didn't want a terrorist supporter in our Country, doesn't mean, we should have allowed him in. It may mean that we need to be more vigilent in how we view pro-JDL individuals and organizations and the JDL, obviously itself.
My understanding is that it is generally accepted that the JDL is no longer involved in terrorist acivitity, but that it is a strong supporter of Kahane Chai - which is a terrorist group.
So - I think if we are being consistent - we would say, "Galloway shouldn't be allowed, and neither should the JDL or anyone supporting or seeking funding for Kahane Chai".
The point is one terrorist isn't any better than another - and hiding behind the "reasons" for that terrorism - whether it's oppression by Israel or fighting against anti-Semites.. is just putting window dressing on a whore-house. It's still what it is.
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