Dear editor:
Who provided the āEnemies of Israelā blacklist read out by Joyce Bate-man, Harperās Conservative candidate in Winnipeg South Centre? It angered the Asper Jewish Community Centre all-candidates-forum audience hosted by Bāani Brith, which was appalled by its bad taste? Was it Bateman, her team, or the Conservative Campaign Committee or even the PMO?
ĢżThe meeting moderator, Dan Lett writing in the Winnipeg Free Press, wrote afterward: āIt is hard in retrospect to escape the feeling the āEnemies of Israelā blacklist Bateman was reading had a McCarthyesque blush to it. The names were read quickly and without any information establishing the veracity of the charges against the individuals named. It was a truly creepy moment.... This was not an impetuous act; it was part of a carefully scripted strategy to use Israel as a wedge issue to capture majority support from Canadian Jews.ā
Ģż
The list of ānames from the Liberal campaign ā volunteers, paid staff workers and candidates alike, among them a decorated general ā who had been identiļ¬ed by the Tories as āenemies of Israel;ā included people Bateman could hardly have known, strongly suggesting the list was provided to her.
Was the criteria for being included on a countywide list of āEnemies of Israelā belief that Israeli attacks on Gaza are unjustiļ¬ed and the continuing occupation of Palestinian lands by Jewish settlements is unjust?
All Conservative candidates need to be asked: āHave you received the āEnemies of Israelā list? Do you agree with whoever compiled the list or with the audience in Winnipeg South who cried āShame!ā?
Yours truly,
Joe Hueglin
Member 29th Parliament
Niagara Falls, Ont.
