Members of the Canadian Boat to Gaza (CBG) today flew out of Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario. A press conference was organized, and while the press release garnered the attention of several mainstream media outlets, it also gathered some unwanted attention in the form of Meir Weinstein and the Jewish Defence League (JDL).

The presence of Weinstein, National Director of the JDL, and an assortment of sign-waving protesters, many dressed in black with wrap-around sunglasses, threw airport security into a state of heightened alarm. Numerous standard-armed police officers were on hand, and the concourse was later patrolled by two officers with automatic weapons.

As television media crews began to arrive, airport security briefly lost control of the situation. The distance that had been kept between the two groups dissolved as the JDL protesters wove their way around the police and crossed the airport concourse towards the small group of CBG participants. To their credit, their intimidating presence was only that, and thankfully there was no violence.

The JDL protesters themselves were a strange lot on this day, in contrast to the smiling friends and family of the CBG delegates. Some of the JDL group mumbled continuously, in barely audible tones, about “56 Muslim nations hanging homosexuals,” but when approached, immediately stopped speaking and would not elaborate. Many literally hid behind vague and incoherent signage, and would not speak when directly spoken to.

Others clearly relished the "enforcer" role, maintaining a stoic silence behind flowing grey beards, heavily ringed fingers, and physiques that one could see working the doors of the toughest of Toronto watering holes. All attempts for interviews were directed to Weinstein, who though initially hesitant, was informed by one of his gallery that while she had heard of The Dominion, she didn't know if it was “filled with lies.”

Finally, Weinstein, appearing somewhat tired and defeated with the whole ordeal, allowed himself to be interviewed. For the sake of comparison, we include Sue Breeze's answers as well. Mrs. Breeze is one of the peaceful activists aboard the Canadian Boat to Gaza, which will soon challenge Israel's illegal blockade of Gaza.

Miles Howe: Why are you here today?

Meir Weinstein: There's an organization that's supportive of Hamas that wants to fly from Toronto to the Middle East, and board a boat in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade. Their aim is to de-legitimize the State of Israel, and demonize the State of Israel, and support Hamas. We're here to oppose that.

Sue Breeze: I'm a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and I want this world to be a better place. And when I see injustice, I have to speak out. An injustice to one is an injustice to all.

MH: Isn't the boat in question filled with humanitarian aid? How is that supporting Hamas?

MW: Israel will inspect it, and if that's the case the aid will get in. As long as Hamas' goal is the destruction of Israel, and they continuously fire rockets into Israel, and their charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews, Israel has to inspect what goes in there.

SB: First of all, Hamas is a democratically elected government. And second of all, we're not delivering aid to Hamas. We're delivering aid to the Palestinians. The Palestinians are suffering, not because of Hamas, but because of an illegal, immoral, inhumane blockade. And as long as Gaza is occupied by Israel, Gazans are going to be in trouble. They're going to be suffering.

By us delivering aid to the Palestinians, we're not delivering aid to Hamas. Just as when Israel says they're going after Hamas, they collectively punish Palestinians.

MH: What do you believe is the aim of this group [the CBG] here today?

MW: They would like to see no Jewish State. That is exactly what their aim is. They don't recognize the Jewish claim to the land of Israel. They don't recognize the Bible, as it speaks throughout, from cover to cover.... (In) both the Jewish bible and the Christian bible. They don't recognize any of that...To them Jesus was a Palestinian. He wasn't. He was Jewish. He went to the Temple, which was a Jewish Temple. They don't recognize any Jewish historical claim, or religious claim, to Israel...There's approximately six million Jews living in Israel right now, and..."Never Again."

SB: I would respond first of all with Gandhi, who questioned the need for Jews to have their own country because they all come from another country just like many of us do...rather than colonizing another country where there are people living, and ignore that they exist. So if Israel wishes to be recognized as existing, it must recognize that Palestine exists.

This is all about Zionism. It has nothing to do with Judaism. Most Zionists are Jews, but most Jews are not Zionists. And Zionism is colonialism. And it's based on racism. And it's based on xenophobia. So as long as the powerful in the world...the US, Canada, accept that there's no distinction between Judaism and Zionism, Zionism will exist and it will continue to persecute and oppress Palestinian people.

All the peaceful activists aboard the flight out of Toronto have arrived safely in Athens, and are recovering from jet lag. Meir Weinstein and the JDL are most probably back in Toronto.

 Miles Howe will be reporting regularly to the Halifax Media Co-op from the Canadian Boat to Gaza. Visit Dispatches from the Tahrir for updates.