on the Jewish voting bloc, but can they still? By Dan Verbin


seeks its destruction and that of the Jewish people,” says the Minister Of Enviroment. University of Toronto political science


professor Renan Levine doesn’t disagree, but adds that a “perfect storm” was brew- ing before the 2008 election due to a series of Liberal missteps. He cites then Liberal leadership candi-


date, and current Liberal leader, Michael Ignatieff’s 2006 accusation in a Quebec in- terview that Israel committed a war crime during that year’s Lebanon War, along with allegations of anti-Semitic campaigning against Bob Rae during the 2006 leader- ship race. Combined with waning Liberal popularity at the national level, these were signs that all was not well between the Lib- erals and the community long before the Tories began their campaign of targeting


ridings, such as Tornhill. Even Ignatieff’s subsequent mea culpa on


his Lebanon War misstep at Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple did little to clear the air. He reportedly told an audience there that he regretted using the term “war crime,” saying, “I meant only that in legitimately defending itself against a terrorist enemy, Israel may have failed to comply with the Geneva Conventions and the laws of war.” “Simultaneously, the Conservatives have


made a concerted effort to target Jewish community support by highlighting their support for issues near and dear to many in the Jewish community, like support for Israel,” Levine says. Aſter Ignatieff’s much ballyhooed foot-


in-mouth moment, public defections from influential community members began a


Michael Ignatieff, leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Photography by credit Winter 2011 friday night 25


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