The black and white scarf known as the keffieh is a traditional piece of Palestinian clothing. But when students wore kuffiehs to a Halifax school on “culture day”, they were told to remove it. Mobilisation by the Palestinian community in Halifax, with support from allies including local members of Independent Jewish Voices Canada, obliged the principal to reverse the decision. (Photo credit: CJPME) Read more…
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NOTE: David da Silva, Canada’s representative to the Palestinian Authority joined the meeting in Huwara along with other diplomats. Good.
But it appears his bosses in Ottawa wouldn’t allow him to sign the joint declaration which clearly said “settler violence is a result of Israels continued settlement activity.” da Silva’s tweet was good, but less clear about who was responsible.
What remains unclear is whether Canada or ANY of those signing the joint press release will take any action against Israel or whether the condemnations will remain devoid of consequence.
Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine
On Sunday February 26, hundreds of Jewish settlers descended on Huwara, a tiny Palestinian town of less than 7,000 people bringing guns, molotov cocktails and batons. They burned cars, trashed houses, attacked civilians. One Palestinian was killed. Dozens injured. The population lives in fear. The Israeli press, and and even some Canadian liberal zionist groups, have described it as a “pogrom”. But the Canadian government refuses to call a “spade a spade”. Why not?
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Nablus, February 22, 2023. 10:00 a.m. Shops full. Kids in school. Armoured Israeli jeeps and other vehicles attempt to penetrate the city. Palestinian youth attempt to stop them. Throwing stones at vehicles, and blocking roads. (Photo credit: CNN) Israelis continue to penetrate. Final result? 10 Palestinians dead, over 100 injured, several seriously. We write to Canadian representative in OPT to ask for more information. Read more.
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Former Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin (l) and former Justice Rosalie Abella (r) are among the over 70 Canadian jurists who have signed a letter warning about the proposed changes limiting the independence of the Israeli judiciary. It is well intentioned, but it misses the mark. It ignores the fact that while the Israeli Supreme Court is vigilant about protecting human rights for Jews, it has been giving cover to more serious ongoing abuses of Palestinian rights. Read more...
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Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 