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| January 22, 2010 Embassy - The truth about KAIROS, NGO Monitor In an article in Embassy last week, Gerald Steinberg criticizes the work of NGOs like KAIROS that confront poverty by addressing its root causes. He claims this approach leads many such NGOs to send support to "fringe opposition leaders, rebels and anti-government insurgents." His accusations and name-calling ("radical," "strident" and "leftist") reveal his tactics. When did seeking positive change become strident or radical? Gerald Steinberg is chair of political studies at Bar Ilan University in Israel. He is president of NGO Monitor, an Israeli organization that monitors NGOs, the UN, and other organizations around the world that critique actions of the Israeli government. The list of organizations that NGO Monitor criticizes is a long one and includes Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders, Save the Children, World Vision Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Christian Aid in the UK, Human Rights Watch in the US, and France's Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme, among many others. December 2009 The Minister of International Cooperation, Bev Oda, has been telling KAIROS, Parliament and the Canadian people that funding to KAIROS was cut because its work did not fit current Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) priorities of economic growth, food security and children and youth. On Wednesday, however, a completely different reason was given in a speech by Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration. Addressing the Global Forum to Counter Anti-Semitism in Jerusalem, Minister Kenney described his government's fights against anti-Semitism and, as an example, said the government had “defunded organizations … like KAIROS for taking a leadership role in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign” against Israel. Click here for complete information on KAIROS, its work, member churches, supporters and actions you can take to tell the Harper government what you think if this attack on Canadian churches in the interest of a foreign state. December 24, 2009 Siddiqui - Tory zealotry unhelpful to Israel and Canada ....Ottawa's decision to axe funding to a group apparently because it criticized Israel has enraged many Canadians and fully exposed the zealotry of Stephen Harper's government in supporting Israel and attacking those who don't.... In Harper's hands, Canada has gone from backing every Israeli action, including the 2006 invasion of Lebanon, to waging a campaign of intimidation and punishment here at home on behalf of Israel.
December 21, 2009 Jewish group slams Minister Kenny's attack on Kairos December 19, 2009 Toronto Star - Fury grows over anti-Semitism charge Church of Canada and other Canadian churches are demanding Prime Minister Stephen Harper explain why one of his cabinet ministers accused them of being anti-Semitic. The United, Catholic and Anglican churches are part of KAIROS, an aid group that was shocked to hear Immigration Minister Jason Kenney say its funding was lifted as part of the Conservatives' effort to cut off anti-Semitic organizations. STATEMENTS FROM ORGANIZATIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES IN SUPPORT OF KAIROS |