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| November 25, 2007 York University Faculty Association statement It was our contention that, in publishing and distributing the media release, the York Administration failed in its obligation under our Collective Agreement to protect and promote academic freedom. The Arbitrator, Russell Goodfellow, agreed; in his conclusion, he writes, York breached Article 10.01 of the Collective Agreement by failing to respect Professor Noble's rights as an academic. Indeed, it may be said that York failed to extend Professor Noble even the most basic of courtesies that might reasonably be expected to be enjoyed by a faculty member. The University publicly vilified his work without first contacting him or YUFA to advise of its concerns, to investigate the matter, or to indicate what it was contemplating. Had it done so, it is at least possible that much, if not all, of what ensued could have been avoided.
David Noble's analysis of the context of his case This is not about Jews. It is not about race, ethnicity or religion. It is about power. The new Israel lobby in Canada the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy (CIJA) has enormous power, derived from abundant resources, corporate connections, political associations, elaborate and able organization and a cadre of dedicated activists. Since its inception several years ago, this hard-line lobby has used its power, first, to gain political hegemony and impose ideological conformity on the matter of Israel within a heretofore diverse Jewish community, and second, to influence government decisions and shape public opinion regarding Israel ostensibly in the name of all Canadian Jewry
Simon Fraser University student newspaper article on Noble case Noble's two-page document suggested the university's recent decisions to crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists and bring the Toronto Argonauts' football stadium on campus may have been influenced by the political views and business interests of some of the foundation's board members. The document linked several board members to Israeli fundraising organisations, alleging the foundation is "biased by the presence and influence of staunch pro-Israel lobbyists, activists and fundraising agencies."
David Noble's speech at the first NOT IN OUR NAME forum: A Word About Free Speech How disturbing it has been, therefore, to discover that well-financed organizations professing to represent all Jews have lately been at the forefront of the suppression of civil rights and free speech. Brandishing the threat of labeling any and all dissenters and critics "anti-semitic," they have, in recent months: blocked Canadian broadcast of Al-Jazeera, interfered with visa applications for visitors with dissenting voices, forced the cancellation of a play about Rachel Corrie, successfully demanded the removal of the children's book Three Wishes from school library shelves, attempted to block at least one academic appointment at York University, and obstructed and publicly attacked democratic decision-making within the Canadian Union of Public Employees of Ontario and the Ontario secondary Schools Teachers' Federation. In addition, they have apparently achieved a stranglehold of censorship on the mainstream media: witness that there are no reporters at this newsworthy event tonight and there has been no coverage whatsoever of NION despite its increasing public visibility.
See also the site of Faculty For Israeli-Palestinian Peace http://www.ffipp.org/ |