As registration for the Spirit of Hope Benefit soars, event planners have announced a major coup: CNN's chief political analyst Gloria Borger, seen daily on Wolf Blitzer's 'The Situation Room' and regularly on 'John King USA' has signed on as Moderator of the Spirit of Hope gala.

Ms. Borger, whose background includes work with 'US News and World Report',  'Face the Nation' and '60 Minutes' is a key participant in CNN's ongoing 'America's Choice 2012' election coverage.

"We anticipate Ms. Borger will do a fabulous job keeping our four very articulate, opinionated and passionate speakers, including Donna Brazile, James Carville, Governor Mike Huckabee and Karl Rove in line throughout the debate," commented Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC). "Our guests are certainly in for a fascinating and lively evening!"

To register for Spirit of Hope contact Tracey Steyn at 416.864.9735 x 21 or visit www.spiritofhopebenefit.com                           

SMALL BUDGETS, FEW REPORTERS ARE REALITIES OF REPORTING IN MIDDLE EAST

An FSWC panel on 'Media Perceptions of the Middle East' at the University of Toronto led to a number of interesting insights into the realities of reporting on Israel and the Middle East today.

Moderator Avi Benlolo, Jonathan Kay & Tarek Fatah listen to fellow panelists

Highlights from the evening include:

Michael Coren, SUN TV: "It's really easy for a journalist to report on Israel- the worst that can happen is that someone may disagree with you. Think about what happens to journalists in Syria . . . it's impossible to report in many Arab countries. So Israel is reported on more than any other country of its size, but I don't think it's for a sinister reason."

(L-R) Michael Coren, Carole MacNeil, Avi Benlolo & Jonathan Kay

Tarek Fatah, CFRB: "When you talk about bias in the Middle East- I don't think the Middle East is just Israelis and Palestinians. More than bias I am deeply concerned about the ignorance of the other stories in the Middle East . . . nobody wants to really understand the difference between an 'Abu', an 'Ibn' and an 'Al'. The main story is no longer about Israel and Palestine."

Jonathan Kay, National Post: "People love stories of tribalism: black vs. white, French vs. English, Ford vs. Smitherman, - and we are looking for a replication of that in foreign reporting. That's why the story of Arab vs. Israeli is so good. The media sticks to a binary story - it's good vs. evil, and the broadcast media has entirely succumbed to it. Rather than challenge consumer taste we slavishly conform to the narrative."

Carole MacNeil, CBC: "If you're wondering if there's systemic bias in the CBC I can tell you there isn't. . .  my position is not to show the Israelis or Palestinians, but to make sure the public has the information so they can make an informed decision. For example, what does it mean to say Canada is Israel's best friend? The media hasn't really understood that yet."

"PRIMAL HATRED" PROLIFERATING AT UNIVERSITIES

 

Dr. Richard Cravatts talks to FSWC about the multi-faceted and alarming 'new' antisemitism on campus

 

In public presentations sponsored by FSWC at Toronto's Beth Sholom Synagogue and Hamilton's McMaster University, as well as at a number of private events, Dr. Richard Cravatts discussed in shocking detail the rise of ancient Jew hatred at universities in North America.

(L-R) Jeff Rosenthal, Dr. Rcihard Cravatts & Avi Benlolo

 

Dr. Cravatts, author of the recently published "The

University's Jihad Against Israel & Jews" and president of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, offered an unsettling account of the "intellectual jihad" designed to ultimately

destroy the Jewish state, and the fear that a whole generation of students is graduating from university with a distorted view of Israel.

Highlights from his presentations include the following:

On covert antisemitism: "It's become easy and safe for people to be antisemitic- not by hating Jews, but by hating the Jewish state. Criticism of Israel has become a great cover for people who really do hate Jews."

On defining the 'new' antisemitism: "It is a fundamental, pathological abhorrence of people living in a Jewish state; an unrelenting, virulent critical analysis of everything Israel does, has done or will do and transforms all Jews into a nation that deserves to be exterminated."

On the oft-stated support for Palestinians: "Being pro-Palestinian doesn't mean much except being anti-Israel. Most people don't care about Palestinians, but they are a convenient club to revile Israel. . . The belief that people care about Palestinians is, I think, a fantasy."

On the targeting of Jewish students: "Jewish students are not seen as needing protection. Why? Because Jews are seen as controlling the press. Jews are powerful. . . Israel is fighting for its life every day yet it is perceived as the bully."

On anti-Israel politics in Academia: Universities don't want diversity of thought. They may want racial diversity but they want people who think like them. Middle East Studies departments, based on the cult of 'Palestinianism' have been hijacked by anti-American, anti-western, anti-Israeli and often antisemitic academics obsessed by Palestinians."

On the Harvard Conference and the One-State Solution: "Harvard is giving a platform to people who want to destroy Israel. The one-state solution is the new version of the Final Solution."

President of University Takes Unprecedented Step of Closing the Campus for Two Days 

Paris, February 28, 2012 - The President of Paris University VIII has taken the unprecedented step of closing the University campus for two days rather than allow an "Israel Apartheid Week" conference to convene at the suburban Paris School. Professor Pascal Binczak, President of the University withdrew initial authorization following a warning from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre that the event could degenerate into a threat to public order and endanger the Jewish community.