The Israeli government’s envoy in Montreal dismissed as “preposterous” an Israeli citizen’s claim for political asylum in Canada on the grounds that he fears persecution for his support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign.
Gilad Paz, 34, who describes himself on his Facebook page as a self-employed lawyer who was living in Tel Aviv, landed in Montreal on a flight from Israel on Aug. 11 and immediately filed for refugee status.
“Israel is a country of human rights, democracy and freedom of expression,” said Israeli Consul General Ziv Nevo Kulman. “The Canadian authorities know this very well, and we have faith that they will deal with this false claim accordingly…There is no persecution in Israel whatsoever. That’s ridiculous.”
Paz’s departure was prompted by the Israeli government’s announcement of a crackdown on BDS promoters a few days earlier. A government task force will seek to deport activists calling for the boycott and to prevent others from entering the country.
The effort is being led by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Interior Minister Arye Dery.
Nevo Kulman said these measures are directed at “foreign activists, troublemakers. Israel is not the only country that tries to keep out troublemakers. We saw that at the World Social Forum [in Montreal earlier in August, when over 200 would-be participants were refused visas for unspecified reasons.]
“It’s too bad he is trying to abuse the system.” Nevo Kulman said he had not previously heard of Paz.
Paz, who identifies himself as a human rights activist who promotes BDS mainly through social media, posted on his Facebook page Aug. 24: “From what I understand by public statements made by the minister, there is now a legal team at the Ministry of Strategic Affairs which is looking for all sorts of ways to hurt people like me legally – whether by criminal or civil methods.
“I’m very curious but, on the other hand, I am not a masochist. As such, I decided not to wait for Israel to make that decision, but rather took pre-emptive measures.”
Paz was still in Montreal as late as Aug. 23, when he was contacted by The CJN via Facebook. At time of writing, he had not responded to a request for direct communication by phone or email.
He has told the Israeli media that said his hearing before immigration officials is scheduled for Sept. 29.
The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reported on Aug. 24 that Paz said he was active in Amnesty International Israel and the left-wing Meretz party.
His Facebook page is mainly devoted to BDS and criticism of Israel. Its logo reads “Boycott=Justice.” He recently shared, for example, a BDS poster from Britain reading: “Israel has no History/Only a Criminal Record.”
According to information on the page, Paz’s hometown is Ness Ziona, he is single and, under “religious views,” lists Christianity.
He is quoted by Ha’aretz as saying: “There are very clear hints in the conduct towards BDS activists, including in the ‘NGO law’, whose only purpose is to send messages to very specific people from very specific organizations: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, you’re not wanted in Israel.’ They’re telling us: ‘Guys, get out of here, this is no longer your country.’”
Paz said he bases his refugee claim on the United Nations refugee convention that stipulates “a well-founded fear of being persecuted.” He believes that public statements made by Erdan and Dery bear out his claim.
He chose Canada because of his understanding that “hundreds” of Israelis have been grant political asylum here since the first intifadah in the late 1980s.
Although he said he believes it would be “dangerous” for him to return to Israel, Paz also told the Electronic Intifada, an online U.S.-based publication supporting BDS, that he had not faced any negative consequences for having spoken out before his departure from Israel.
The publication suggests he does not have a high profile in the BDS movement. “Longtime activists in Israel familiar with BDS circles there told the Electronic Intifada they did not know Paz in person,” it reported Aug. 22.
Erdan, Ha’aretz reported, commented that, “Judging by Mr. Paz’s view, it’s clear to everyone that he wants to leave Israel without any connection to the battle against the boycott or other issues. He is apparently using the excuse of the boycott only to try to receive a permanent-residence permit in Canada.”
To the Israeli news outlet Ynet, Paz said: “It’s been a long time since I stopped believing in the State of Israel. I believe that the Zionist idea was mistaken at its root, and we’re still paying the price for it today.”