MEMORANDUM

 

March 17, 2011

 

TO:                      Mayor and Members of Council

 

FROM:                Clerks Department

 

SUBJECT:          Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW)

 

 

Further to the request for information pertaining to “Israeli Apartheid Week” at York University, Town staff has assembled the following information.

 

 

1.      Financial transactions between Town and York University

·         Town purchase of programs/services from York University

Past 6 years:          $165,000 total (est.)

·         York University purchase of programs/services from Town and expenditures made in Town-sponsored programs

Past 6 years:          $100,000 total (est.)

                              plus $48,000 annual rent (MCC) starting in 2011

                              and $27,000 in one-time capital reno to space in MCC

                             

 

2.      Background on IAW

·         “About Israeli Apartheid Week” as per official website http://apartheidweek.org/en/about

·         “The 7th Annual Israeli Apartheid Week 2011” as per official website http://apartheidweek.org/en

·         “Toronto Israeli Apartheid Week” as per official website http://toronto.apartheidweek.org/

·         Backgrounder on IAW prepared by Israel Resource Review Feb. 8/11 www.israelbehindthenews.com/bin/printerfriendly/pf.cgi

·         “Students Stand Up To Israeli Apartheid Week Campaign” articles in Canadian Jewish News March 10/11 http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20961&Itemid=101

 

 

3.      IAW at York University (information provided by York U administration)

·         York University President’s message to York U community regarding freedom of expression and responsibilities.  http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=16562

·         “Contemporary Antisemitism in Higher Education” prepared by United States Holocaust Memorial Museum July 2010  (see Attachment 1)

·         Initiatives taken by York U to make the university an inclusive and safe environment on campus (see Attachment 2 & 3)

·         Other initiatives taken by York U include:

a.       “The administration reached out to faculty members affiliated with the Israel and Golda Koshitzky Centre for Jewish Studies and organized a dialogue on February 9, 2011, among faculty and members of the University’s campus and university relations divisions. Through dialogue, we explored antisemitic expression and antisemitism in contemporary times and the intersection of these issues with academic freedom and freedom of expression, within the context of York University. We continue to seek counsel from members of the Centre on these issues. Enclosed is the discussion paper - crafted by University professors and administrators at a research event hosted last summer at the Holocaust Museum in Washington. This pre-reading material served as the springboard for the dialogue”.

b.      “Per the highlights on the Creating an Inclusive Environment document, a symposium sponsored jointly by the Standing Committee on Campus Dialogue (SCCD) and the Centre for Human Rights (CHR), in partnership with the Canadian Arab Jewish Leadership Dialogue Group was held on the afternoon of Sunday February 27, 2011. This "by invitation only" session brought together Arab and Jewish members of the Greater Toronto Area to discuss the difficult and challenging issues in the Middle East by first getting to know each other on a personal level and sharing lived experiences. A total of thirty people were present and roughly equally represented the two groups. Included were two York students and a few faculty members. Noel Badiou, Director of York's CHR, provided welcoming remarks on behalf of President Shoukri and Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner of Ontario Human Rights Commission also welcomed participants. One of the interesting themes that arose was the forgotten shared history and struggles (well prior to the last 60 years or so) of the peoples originating from the Middle East. There was an expressed desire to see a renewal of historic cooperation and even a celebration of common cultural practices. The SCCD and the CHR hope to further this dialogue amongst the York community and replicate the idea that there is a positive shared history and culture that should be recognised and with this, perhaps there is a way forward in furthering the dialogue on the more difficult and challenging actions currently being taken”.


4.      Key Facts

·         IAW is a world-wide event

·         Now in its 7th year (55 cities)

·         March 7-13 in Toronto

·         IAW holds events at U of T, Ryerson U, and York U

 

 

The contact person at York University re. IAW is:

 

Cindy Bettcher, Special Advisor

Office of the Vice President