What do you think?
Rate this book
Canada and Israel — Building Apartheid
Canada and Israel — Build Apartheid is the first critical primer about Canada’s ties to Israel. It is a devastating account of Canadian complicity in 20th and 21st century colonialism, dispossession and war crimes. The book documents the history of Canadian Christian Zionism, Lester Pearson’s important role in the United Nations negotiations to create a Jewish state on Palestinian land, the millions of dollars in tax-deductable donations used to expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service ties to Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (Mossad).
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 24, 2014
Shows that Canada's idea of itself as a peacekeeping nation and as an upholder of human rights on an international level is as false as America's 'defenders of democracy' self-image. Can't say I'm surprised tbh, though finding out that Tommy Douglas was a Zionist was a bit of a blow. Canada's history of support for Israel extends far beyond Harper.
June 25, 2017
When I picked this book off my shelf yesterday, I was surprised to find a bookmark about halfway through. I did remember that I had purchased this book at an appearance of the author at an Israeli Apartheid Week event about five years ago. I didn't remember that I had already started reading it.
For whatever reason I stopped reading five years ago, it did not stop me this time. Glued to the book from beginning to end, I was impressed by the depth of research and analysis, and the thorough understanding of the subject. I was also pleased to find that I remembered most of the first half from my last reading, even if I didn't remember the reading itself.
Here is one of the best, and most concise, books on the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories as understood through the lens of international politics. This book does more than point a finger at the injustices of the Israeli state. It challenges the international community, most especially and specifically Canada, to recognize our complicity in that injustice.
Though Canada is the name on the front, there is a lot of American politics in this book as well. As one of Israel's closest allies, and Canada's closest trading partner, as America goes has great influence and import in understanding how Canada goes as well. Still, though Canada is simply unable by virtue of size and resources to offer the same degree of support as the United States (especially when it comes to military), this book still paints a picture of Canada as a leader in the world when it comes to supporting Israel's apartheid policies. These examples are given with thorough and unrelenting cited examples of support by both official policy and the cultural pressure surrounding it.
Most disturbing were some details in the final chapters specifically citing the support of Canadian evangelicals and Canadian media. I found the names of former friends and colleagues of mine and organizations with which they are affiliated. The sins of this book are my own. I felt duly chastised, and inspired to actively resist that which I once supported, that which even members of my own family support today.
This is likely to be an appropriately uncomfortable read for almost any Canadian. Our country is not very big. Yet, as we approach 150 years, and become more aware of our own recent history of colonial violence, and continued racist policies against our indigenous people, this book shines light on our support of a nation whose daily actions mirror the absolute worst of our history of cultural genocide and violent segregation. We are a small nation, by population. The likelihood that any Canadian reader is only a few degrees of separation from the active violence described in this book is high. I hope that its sober contents inspire many to action for justice for these human beings that are too often easy to ignore simply because they are a world away.
For whatever reason I stopped reading five years ago, it did not stop me this time. Glued to the book from beginning to end, I was impressed by the depth of research and analysis, and the thorough understanding of the subject. I was also pleased to find that I remembered most of the first half from my last reading, even if I didn't remember the reading itself.
Here is one of the best, and most concise, books on the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories as understood through the lens of international politics. This book does more than point a finger at the injustices of the Israeli state. It challenges the international community, most especially and specifically Canada, to recognize our complicity in that injustice.
Though Canada is the name on the front, there is a lot of American politics in this book as well. As one of Israel's closest allies, and Canada's closest trading partner, as America goes has great influence and import in understanding how Canada goes as well. Still, though Canada is simply unable by virtue of size and resources to offer the same degree of support as the United States (especially when it comes to military), this book still paints a picture of Canada as a leader in the world when it comes to supporting Israel's apartheid policies. These examples are given with thorough and unrelenting cited examples of support by both official policy and the cultural pressure surrounding it.
Most disturbing were some details in the final chapters specifically citing the support of Canadian evangelicals and Canadian media. I found the names of former friends and colleagues of mine and organizations with which they are affiliated. The sins of this book are my own. I felt duly chastised, and inspired to actively resist that which I once supported, that which even members of my own family support today.
This is likely to be an appropriately uncomfortable read for almost any Canadian. Our country is not very big. Yet, as we approach 150 years, and become more aware of our own recent history of colonial violence, and continued racist policies against our indigenous people, this book shines light on our support of a nation whose daily actions mirror the absolute worst of our history of cultural genocide and violent segregation. We are a small nation, by population. The likelihood that any Canadian reader is only a few degrees of separation from the active violence described in this book is high. I hope that its sober contents inspire many to action for justice for these human beings that are too often easy to ignore simply because they are a world away.
September 26, 2010
A well researched book about the long and lasting support of canada's political, financial and media establishment to Israel. It refutes the myth of canada being an honest broker in the middle east. It also proves that canada's interest in Israel is mainly led by religious believes (mainly christian zionism) and by geopolitical and economical interests in the middle east region.
November 14, 2020
Extremely well researched and chalk full of information about Canada’s relationship to Israel from the 40’s to present day. If you are interested in Canadian foreign policy and human rights it’s a must read.
November 3, 2015
"can only lament canada's historical and ongoing contribution to the tragedy enveloping the long-suffering peoples of the promised land, arab and jewish."
February 1, 2018
Very informative. Every Canadian should read this book.
May 14, 2022
I don't think much of Engler's writing style (this is a recurring theme through his works for me) and his actual commentary well crosses the border into polemical, but the overwhelming data shared in this book in support of the author's point can't be understated. I assume the nature of Engler's body of work (exposing injustices of the Canadian state) prevents him from obtaining the kind of oversight and editing that might help his writing seem more prosaic and less like dropping tables and tables of data on the reader and so I'll cut him some slack, but a lot of this is also a matter of style which can absolutely be improved by one's own merit.
Regardless of my thoughts on the author, by and large Building Apartheid is absolutely scathing in its laying out the extent of Canadian favoritism towards Israel from its origins and beyond, and even when authorial commentary pokes through too strongly or clear bias is evident in the order in which facts are laid out, hopefully the intelligent reader can wade through the data and at times unrestrained bias to reach the conclusion fairly. Canada is an immoral actor on the international stage and has at no point played anything but a heavy hand in favor of Israel, even at times the US of all countries is hesitant to outright show support. Canadians owe it to themselves to read about this topic and inform themselves on just how much they're willing to let our nation's pro-Israeli stance continue in the face of both mistreatment of Israeli Arabs, and of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people.
Regardless of my thoughts on the author, by and large Building Apartheid is absolutely scathing in its laying out the extent of Canadian favoritism towards Israel from its origins and beyond, and even when authorial commentary pokes through too strongly or clear bias is evident in the order in which facts are laid out, hopefully the intelligent reader can wade through the data and at times unrestrained bias to reach the conclusion fairly. Canada is an immoral actor on the international stage and has at no point played anything but a heavy hand in favor of Israel, even at times the US of all countries is hesitant to outright show support. Canadians owe it to themselves to read about this topic and inform themselves on just how much they're willing to let our nation's pro-Israeli stance continue in the face of both mistreatment of Israeli Arabs, and of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people.
May 3, 2019
This book succinctly summarizes the ties between Canada and Israel, which are tighter than what one would think. Almost always has Canada sided with the Israeli apartheid state, never speaking out against the atrocities committed against Palestinians. It informs us about the many pro-Israeli Canadian politicians and the pro-Israel lobby groups, and turns out the Zionists are quite in force there, donating quite a lot of money to silence pro-Palestine activism. Towards the end, it gives us activists some insight on how to organize against the Zionists, by also giving us a list of active organizations. It's a must-read for anyone wishing to learn more about Canadian support for Israel. What I wish was touched upon (though that probably wasn't the point of the book) is Canada's own history of denying its own indigenous population their basic rights. Canada and Israel are both settler-colonial states, so I think it would have been relevant to mention the similarities.
June 29, 2024
If you’re Canadian, you must read this book at some point in your life. This gave me SO much more understanding of Canada’s legacy and international movements. Our education’s current history curriculum reflects the avoidance of this ethically devious history as this long-standing relationship between Canada and Israel was never mentioned!! Free Palestine and shame on Canada’s complicity in modern genocides. It is never too late to educate yourself
November 14, 2025
The Canadian Government continues to support Israel despite the genocide that is being perpetrated against Palestine.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews