By Rabbi Shimon Fogel
June 3rd, 2013
The Times of Israel
In recent, the Foreign Affairs Committee of Canada’s House of Commons launched a study examining the experience of Jewish refugees from Arab countries. The following is excerpted from my presentation to the Committee, outlining Canada’s diplomatic history on this file and making the case for a substantive change in Canadian foreign policy.
Two refugee populations were created as a result of the Arab-Israeli conflict – one Palestinian and the other Jewish. Unfortunately, the plight of Jewish refugees has been completely omitted from Canada’s Middle East policy while that of the Palestinians features prominently. It is essential that policymakers correct this inherent imbalance. Equitable consideration of Jewish refugees from Arab countries is a necessary component for any just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
