Schabas’ defence appalling
As a litigator with more than 38 years of experience, I am appalled at William Schabas’ defence on the issue of bias (“William Schabas: No evidence of bias against Israel,” Feb. 12).
A judge or the head of a tribunal must recuse from sitting if there is the slightest hint of possible bias or conflict of interest. In this case, Schabas had not only authored a paper on behalf of the PLO, a partner of Hamas, but he had also made outright previous statements indicating his views vis-a-vis one of the parties, the State of Israel. This is not bias ?
Additionally, Schabas has an outright befuddled thought process. He accuses Irwin Cotler, Alan Dershowitz and Joseph Wieler of not being able to judge him because of their imputed bias as supporters of Israel. If this is the situation, how does Schabas not fare any better. His logic is totally illogical.
Arnold Recht
Toronto
Affordable day schools
Given that we understand that the sustainability of Jewish life is very much dependent on Jewish education, and that this education is very much endangered by high costs, why have we given up the struggle to secure funding for Jewish day schools from the Ontario provincial government?
We seem to have given up, following John Tory’s ignominious defeat for championing private religious school funding. But the reasonable arguments for public funding are every bit as strong as those against funding. In fact, Quebec is an example of a government that successfully funds some private ethnic day schools, including Jewish day schools. And that funding did not happen without significant efforts by the community. Key leaders of Montreal’s Jewish community were pilloried for this effort by the media but were not deterred. Perhaps it’s time that we return to that struggle and demonstrate how important Jewish day schools are to sustaining our community.
Joe Kislowicz
Toronto
Iran seeks to destroy Israel
I am amazed at the twisted “facts” in the letter, “Iran is not the threat,” (Feb. 12).
The main argument is that Iran has a geopolitical problem with the United States and Israel and simply “wants to be recognized as a major regional power.” I agree that it does want to be recognized as such. However, its clear intention is to do it at the expense of destroying Israel and any U.S.-leaning country in the region. And while it is true that former president Mahmoud Ahmedinajad never said Iran seeks to “wipe Israel off the face of the map,” he repeated that statement in order to fire up the crowd to not forget those words of the Ayatollah Khomeini and to continue on the path of the destruction of Israel.
As for the statement that “Iran, in contrast to Israel and the United States, has not invaded any country since the 1700s,” I would like to hear why Iran regularly stages military parades where it likes to show off its shiny new Shahab 3 missiles (range 2,000 km) with the launchers marked “Death to Israel.” What about the placards with a clear and unambiguous message in English saying “Destroy Israel and America!”? What about the Iranian missiles seized by Israel in 2014 while in transit to Hezbollah in Lebanon? What about the numerous weapons smuggled underground to Hamas? Let us not forget the various bodies of Iranian Revolutionary Guards found among casualties in the various skirmishes with Hamas and Hezbollah? The proof of Iran’s destructive intentions is limitless.
Robert Khalifa
Montreal
Iran is no paradise for Jews
The letter (“Iran is not the threat,” Feb. 12) paints the most wonderful picture of Iran, especially for Jews.
I believe the letter writer lives in an alternative universe. The world I live in knows the dangers of Iran and its endless pursuit in the destruction of Israel.
It has been supplying Hezbollah and Hamas with arms, money and know-how in their war against Israel. I don’t call that nationalism. I call that active aggression.
As for the Iranian Jewish community, they may be able to practise Judaism (within limits) in decaying synagogues (that they’re not allowed to rebuild) and always in fear. This portrait of Iran is painted with a greatly distorted brush.
Judy Schwartz
Burlington, Ont.