Not all in favour of definition

Why definition of antisemitism has become a polarizing issue, Nov. 19

Israel’s human rights abuses are well documented and it shouldn’t be off limits to talk about them.

Without articles like this one, most people would think that all Canadian Jews were in favour of this controversial definition, with its implication that criticizing Israel is antisemitic. We are not.

And that includes Jews who, although they won’t say so, are horrified at the direction Israel is taking.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, even though (even if!) it has no legal power, will have a seriously chilling, if not freezing, effect on freedom of speech when it comes to Palestine. It already has.It won’t silence me. But if I were 40 years younger, with a job, I might lose for supporting Palestine, it probably would.

Elizabeth Block, Toronto

LOUISE SMITH, TORONTO