NOVANEWS
Dear Friends
I thank those individuals and organizations who have come forward on my
behalf. There is an important principle involved in this case and we
must fight the attempt to confuse criticism of Israel and defense of the
Palestinian human rights with anti-semitism. Anti-semitism like
Islamophobia and Homophobia and all other forms of discrimination must
be condemned.
I have now received 41 letters of support from Jewish academics and
activists. This includes a letter of support from Independent Jewish
Voices ( Canada ), a United Jewish Peoples Order and from Not In Our Name
(NION). I have also received a support letter from 15 other prominent
activists and authors who are not Jewish. This includes a letter from a
Judge in Portugal .
As noted in my previous email I have also received letters of support
from the editors of Middle East Policy, Dissident Voice and of course
Jewish Outlook. I am expecting several more such letters from other
publishers. Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)
have also written a powerful letter addressing the issue of
“anti-semitism” and Palestinian human rights.
I have distributed a statement of support from Israeli lawyer Henry
Lowi, Professor Noam Chomsky , a letter from The Editor of Outlook, and a
letter from Professor Norton Mezvinsky, Distinguished Connecticut State
University Professor of History (Emeritus) and President, International
Council for Middle East Studies, Washington , D.C.
Attached below is Professor Richard Falk’s letter of support. He is the
UN Special Rapporteur for Occupied Palestine and the Milbank Professor
of International Law Emeritus, Princeton University and since 2002
Visiting Distinguished Professor, Global Studies , University of
California at Santa Barbara
More letters are need to make an overwhelmingly strong legal case that
criticism of Israel or Zionism or defending Palestinian human rights is
not anti-semitic. I would like to have 50 letters of support written by
Jewish critics of Israel ‘s policies who do not equate criticism of
Israel‘s policies or of Zionism with anti-semitism.
As noted in my previous update I have now received the Defendant’s list
of witnesses. The list includes the defendant; Clayton C. Ruby, a well
known Civil Liberties lawyer and member of the Law Union of Ontario;
Windsor Lawyer Victoria Cross also a member of the Law Union and who is
active with the NDP; and Winnipeg lawyer David Matas who is the senior
legal counsel of B’nai Brith Canada .
My witnesses include a leading Jewish academic, a prominent Jewish
activist and another prominent academic who has published a book
critiquing the so called “new anti-semitism” who have agreed to testify
on my behalf in the law suit. I have also approached a number of other
individuals to give testimony.
This case will be a precedent setting legal decision on the question “is
criticism of Israel or Zionism anti-Semitic.” With David Matas, and
B’nai Brith, weighing in on the case it is clear the Defense intend to
argue that other than trivial matters criticizing Israel is anti-Semitic.
In their Statement of Defense, in my opinion, they could not produce
anything of substance that indicated that I had written any articles or
said anything even remotely anti-semitic.
The vast majority of my articles published on the Israel-Palestine issue
has been quoting Jewish and Israeli authors in defense of Palestinian
human rights. Quoting Jewish writers can hardly be considered
anti-semitic. The rest of my published articles are on Immigration and
refugee issues or other political matters.
If this allegation of anti-semitism is not refuted in a libel action it
will stand against me in terms of my public and professional career. If
not withdrawn by the Defendant or deemed libelous and defamatory by the
Court the charge of anti-semitism can be leveled at any person who
criticizes Israel , or anyone who posts articles critical of Israel on a
list serve or who tries to publicly defend Palestinian human rights.
The charge of anti-semitism, as you all know, is the big stick that
right-wing Zionists and uncritical supporters of Israel ‘s government’s
policies use to suppress criticism of Israel and Zionism and attack
those who defend Palestinian human rights. Even Jews are attacked in
this manner or they are called self-hating Jews for supporting
Palestinian human rights.
Resources legal and financial are going to be very important in deciding
the outcome. I have received $900 in contributions to help off set the
costs of the law suit and for bringing in expert witnesses to testify on
the subject of anti-antisemitism and Palestinian Human Rights. More
money has been promised.
Much more money will be needed to proceed with this law suit if it
proceeds to court and to win the legal battle and to establish a legal
precedent that criticism of Israel or Zionism is not anti-Semitic. It
will cost a great deal to pay for experts and professional legal
counsel. I am presently in discussions with a prominent legal counsel
about moving the case to a higher court.
I need more letters of support from Jewish academics and activists and
also from others concerned that criticism of Israel policies or
defending Palestinian human rights might be considered anti-Semitic.
If this legal battle is lost it will establish a most unfortunate legal
precedent that will be used to silence criticism of Israel and criticism
of Zionism in Canada and even beyond. It would be a disaster if
defending Palestinian human rights can be attacked as anti-Semitic. Both
electronic and signed hard copies of the letters would be appreciated.
If you send the letter electronically please put “Support Letter” in the
subject line as I am being bombarded by SPAM emails at the present time.
Donation of cash and other in kind support are also needed. Any money
raised will be allocated specifically to cover expenses related to this
case. Checks should be made out to Edward C. Corrigan and marked for
legal case and send to the below address.
If you would like more information on this subject especially to write a
support letter please do not hesitate to contact me. Found below is an
Interview I did for Stan Heller of the Struggle, a well known Jewish
peace activist. Please also read Professor Richard Falk’s letter of
support found below.
Edward C. Corrigan
Barrister & Solicitor
Certified Specialist in Citizenship and Immigration
and Immigration and Refugee Protection
383 Richmond Street, Suite 902
London, Ontario , Canada
N6A 3C4
(tel) 519-439-4015
(fax) 519-439-7657
Toll free 1-800-883-6217
web site www.edcorrigan.ca
Here is a link to an interview I did on October 26, 2011 with Stan
Heller with The Struggle.
http://tv.thestruggle.org/
permanently at
http://tv.thestruggle.org/node/496
I think it came out well
Stan Heller
Here is an electronic copy of Professor Falk’s letter of support.
September 14, 2011