JEWISH ALTERNATIVES


GOALS
	We hope to establish a national umbrella organization of Canadian Jewish groups and individuals who believe Canadian Jews should take a greater role in supporting and promoting a peaceful and just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

	This new organization would:
establish a web-site for the provision of information directed toward a peaceful and just settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict  from a Canadian perspective;
organize a committee which would represent the views of Canadian-Jewish dissenters to the media, to government officials, and to parliamentary committees as the need and the opportunities arise;
apply for membership in the Canadian-Jewish Congress (CJC), take part in its deliberations, and present the view of Canadian Jews who do not think that their positions in regard to this conflict are currently represented in the CJC; in short, we would hope to change the stance taken by the current leadership of Canadian Jewry;
build on existing networks with Israelis, Palestinians, and with others around the world who share our beliefs;
address the public wherever possible;
enlist new members to help in this work.

NAME
	The new organization could be called Jewish Alternatives (Jaltern) to suggest that our various members hold varying views on the Israel-Palestine Conflict and how it might be resolved. 

ORGANIZATION
	Jaltern would consist of various Jewish constituent groups across Canada who would be free to conduct their customary activities in accordance with their own policies and procedures.  But it would also be open to individual Jews, who would be free to run for elected office within the group on an equal basis with those who belong to constituent groups.  It is proposed that a regional executive of three persons be elected in each major Canadian centre.  These small groups will automatically become members of the national executive.  The national executive will use available communication technology to decide who will undertake which task and for how long.  There should, however, be regular annual elections.
	At the moment, there is no need to set or arrange for membership fees.  At a later stage, a nominal fee may be required to handle the cost of phone calls, the printing of informational materials, and various other routine costs associated with maintaining a national organization.

HISTORY
	We are indebted to Eibie Weizfeld of Montreal for conceiving the idea, investigating its possibilities, and attempting to get it started.  It is a good idea, but since the Charter was unable to gather the requisite 50 signatures, it is now proposed that we try again with a different structure and strategy.  Some people might be a little skeptical about the readiness of the CJC to accept another dissenting organization within its ranks.  Yet we have been led to understand that the CJC would welcome the presence of another group in order to balance the powerful presence of Likud supporters within the CJC.

RULES and RESTRAINTS
	Any group that can demonstrate it has a national membership of at least 50 Jewish members, a constitution, and an executive is eligible to become a member of the CJC and to participate in its deliberations.  People who already belong to an organization represented in the CJC (e.g. CFPN or UJPO) should not sign up for membership in Jaltern at this stage.  Our statement of principles should be wide enough to accommodate people with widely differing views (e.g. pro-, anti-, or non-Zionists, one-state, two-state supporters, etc.).  It should be clear, however, that the new organization will be principally concerned with the Israel-Palestine Conflict and with how that conflict is impacting on Jews in Canada.   

PRINCIPLES
	Our statement of principles should accommodate people with widely differing views (e.g. pro-, anti-, or non-Zionists, one-state, two-state supporters, etc.).  It should be clear, however, that the new organization will be principally concerned with the Israel-Palestine Conflict and with how that conflict is impacting on Jews in Canada.  We feel our principles should be stated briefly and generally in order to accommodate the diverse views held by our potential members:
Like Jews everywhere, the members of Jaltern are greatly concerned about Israel and the direction it has takenespecially in recent years.
The members of Jaltern believe that Israel should evacuate the Occupied Territories in order to permit the Palestinians to establish an independent, democratic, and just society that can live in peace and harmony with Israel.
The members of Jaltern believe that the Government of Canada should support UN resolutions and follow an even-handed policy in respect to the Middle East Conflict.
The members of Jaltern believe in the future of Jewish communities based in Canada, organized by Canadian Jews, and working in our interests.  Though Israel will always be an important concern for us, we believe that Canadian Jewry should be free to state any differences it has with the Israeli government; nor should it necessarily approve all the policies undertaken by Israel.


STRATEGIES
	At the moment, we have potential members in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Montreal.  Each one of us is asked to use our contacts and persuasive powers to bring in new people.  There is room for both active and silent members.  
In general, CJC meetings will be attended by those members who live in the area where the meeting is taking place.  For example, Toronto members will represent the organization at those times when the CJC meets in Toronto.

TACTICS
	It should be clear to everyone that there are people in the mainstream Jewish community who will oppose our views.  They are well-organized, well-financed, and committed to their cause.  They employ an experienced bureaucracy to carry out their policies.  These professionals are in turn assisted by many volunteers who are convinced that they must preserve Israel as it is presently constituted.  Ours is not an easy task, nor one that is likely to earn us the esteem and gratitude of the current leadership, nor of the majority of Jewish community of which we are a part.  We recognize that the policies currently being pursued by the Israeli government, and supported by most Jewish Diaspora communities, are costing the lives of thousands of decent and innocent human beings on both sides of the Conflict.  It is also inflicting tremendous damage on Israel and on the Jews abroad.  We understand what is happening, and therefore we cannot say that we don't know, that we accept what our leaders tell us, and that we have no responsibility for what is being done in our name. 
	History tells us that victory does not always go to those with the greatest forces.  Sometimes a small group that is committed to a just cause will ultimately prevail because most people do not wish to do what is wrong, unjust, or indecent.  We must learn to adopt tactics that will prove to be effective in the struggle for public opinion in Canada.  Let us try out the strategy and tactics outlined above.  If need be, we will drop, or modify, part or all of them.   But eventually we will find our way.