The Israel lobby has been very active in this election, attacking candidates who are critical of Israel by claiming they are “anti-Semitic” and demanding that parties drop them. In some cases, it worked and parties flinched. But not always. Its campaign against NDP candidate Miranda Gallo (above) failed. Has the Israel lobby gone to the well too many times? Read more. (more…)
Month: September 2019
A recent election reveals four interesting paradoxes about Israel
Israeli President Reuvin Rivlin will decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu (r) gets to form a new Likud government, or if that privilege will go to Benny Ganz (l), Netanyahu’s former top general and leader of the “Blue and White” party. The election revealed some interesting paradoxes about Israel. Read more.
Robert Massoud, founder of Zatoun, to speak in Ottawa Monday, September 30th
About the Speaker
Robert Massoud is Palestinian-Canadian. In 2004, he founded Zatoun, Fair Trade olive oil from Palestine to serve as a symbol of light, hope and peace in North America. The oil is available mostly through faith communities, the grassroots and fair trade network.
Robert is invited to speak to a wide range of audiences including faith groups, activist networks and student bodies with a unique message of creative participation and nonviolent resistance engaging North Americans to learn and be in solidarity with Palestinians and their struggle for a just peace for Israel-Palestine. His message is that Israel-Palestine is of direct interest to all humanity and its resolution vital to peace in the world and ultimately to the health of the planet.
NOTE: If you miss Robert at the OFIP lunch, he will also be speaking at these other times and locations in Ottawa:
Saturday, Sep 28 @ 7:00 p.m. : The Zatoun Story: From Palestine To Canada
First Unitarian Congregation
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 10:00 am: A Story from the Land of Miracles (sermon)
Emmanuel United Church
Monday, Sep 30 @ 7:00 pm: The Taste of Peace
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
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Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is a weekly newsletter which encourages and promotes a thoughtful discussion among Canadians on the Israel/Palestine issue, including a well informed and sensitive discussion about solutions. CTIP encourages serious people who disagree with any column to make comment. Disagreements respectfully offered are welcome. To learn more about what CTIP does, contact us at chair.ctip@gmail.com.
In memoriam: Michael Shenstone, Canadian diplomat, man of integrity, friend and advocate for the Palestinian people
Retired Canadian diplomat Michael Shenstone at home in Ottawa, March 2015. He died peacefully on September 9, 2019, in Toronto. He was 91. His diplomatic career began in Lebanon in 1954, only 6 years after the creation of the State of Israel. “I visited many refugee camps. It was clear that something terrible, and terribly unfair, had happened to the Palestinians,” he told me. Read more. (more…)
Who really controls US (and Canadian) policy towards Israel/Palestine? – Stephen Gowans argues that it may not be who you think it is
In a new book, Ottawa-based independent political analyst Stephen Gowans examines why the USA has given such extensive military, diplomatic and economic support to Israel for the last half century. That support has led some to conclude that Israel (or “Zionists”, or even “Jews”) control US politics. Gowans calls this the “Judeo-Israeli hijack theory” and believes it is mistaken. Read more and watch the short video interview with Gowans here. (more…)
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 