Reflect back in time to 2001 and the fiasco in Durban, South Africa, where the United Nations convened the World Conference Against Racism to address the systemic issues of racism in many parts of the modern world.

With meticulous planning, the Palestinian “lobby” used this forum as a means of attacking and vilifying Israel under the guise of a world conference that should have had little to do with Middle Eastern politics.

Those who attended the preparatory committee meetings earlier that year in Geneva and elsewhere saw the writing on the wall – Durban was going to be exploited by hostile forces to lash out at Israel. But no one expected Durban to become the site of what turned out to be rampant anti-Semitism.

As seen too often throughout history, various calamities, including the bubonic plague, have been blamed on and turned into attacks against Jews.

In Durban, there were anti-Semitic signs and pamphlets, and there were demonstrations at which banners and T-shirts displayed images of swastikas and even Hitler’s face. There were threats of physical violence, and the Jews who were attending the conference in search of dialogue and solutions to fight racism became the victims of hate. And on it went.

Many in attendance commented that never since the dark days of Nazi Germany had there been such unparallelled, systematic displays of open propaganda against Jews. The threats and incitement to hate were so pronounced that, had they occurred in Canada, they would have violated the hate propaganda provisions of our Criminal Code. They probably also violated South African laws, however, since the conference occurred on property temporarily designated as falling under the jurisdiction of the United Nations, nothing was done about it.

Fast forward to Canada in 2009 and the pro-Hamas, anti-Israel demonstrations in Montreal (on Jan. 4 and 10) and Toronto (on Jan. 10) occurring as a result of the Hamas-initiated fighting in Gaza. These displays quickly became ugly, exhibitions of anti-Semitism. These examples of anti-Jewish hatred were widely reported, and a number of YouTube videos captured demonstrators shouting chilling threats against Jews (“Jews are our dogs!” and “Jewish child… you’re gonna f’n die. Hamas is coming for you!”).

We know from recent international reports that such expressions of hate can lead to actual violence. This recently occurred in both London and Antwerp.

Canada is a nation that encourages freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association. These are constitutionally protected rights in Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We recognize that dissent is part of the Canadian experience, and the Charter permits peaceful assembly and encourages legitimate expressions of protest.

But the anti-Israel protests turned into ugly exhibitions of hate against Jews. It was shocking to witness this kind of thing in South Africa, but we certainly do not expect to experience this in our Canadian cities.

Who spoke out against these protests against Israel that became shameful, raw, anti-Jewish attacks?

To his credit, at least one prominent politician did so. On Jan. 15, Jason Kenny, the minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, stated, in part, that “the open incitement of hatred has absolutely no place in Canadian society.” There were also editorials to that effect in the Montreal Gazette, the Chronicle Herald and the Ottawa Citizen. But most of Canada was silent.

The Middle Eastern conflict should never become a reason to incite hatred against Jews. We all assume, perhaps incorrectly, that all Canadians, irrespective of their backgrounds, would not succumb to the vicious and hateful expressions of anti-Semitism that characterized these protests in our cities.

Canada is a civilized nation, respecting people’s right to hold varied opinions. But we must draw the line when legitimate expression becomes displays of criminal hatred.

The United Nations is planning a followup conference “against” racism later this year in Geneva at an event commonly referred to as “Durban II.”  There are already many signs suggesting that the conference will, once again, primarily focus upon the Middle East conflict and evolve into another anti-Semitic forum. Fortunately, Canada has had the good sense not to participate. One Durban was certainly enough.

We must be vigilant against anti-Jewish and all other forms of hatred in Canada and must speak out strongly whenever and wherever they occur.