Coalition urges voters to consider human rights for Palestinians in upcoming vote

An ad hoc committee of Canadian human rights organizations has launched a campaign to remind voters that Canada’s policy towards human rights for Palestinians needs attention. Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine interviews committee spokesperson Dania Majid about the objectives of the campaign. Read more and watch the interview.

“It is no longer enough for Canada to use the language of support for a two-state solution,” argues an ad hoc committee of Canadian human rights organizations, “Canada needs to take concrete measures to support freedom and justice for Palestinians.“

The “Vote Palestine” coordinating committee, which includes organizations like Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and has dozens of partners across the country encourages voters to speak with their local candidates and ask them their views on four main themes:

ENDING MILITARY TRADE AND COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL

  • Cancel the drone contract with Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems
  • End Israeli military recruitment in Canada by enforcing the Canadian Foreign Enlistment Act
  • Suspend all bilateral trade of weapons and military services with Israel until it complies with international law.

ENDING THE TRADE OF GOODS AND SERVICES FROM ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS

  • Ban the trade of goods and services from Israeli settlements.
  • End all forms of economic, military, and academic cooperation with Israeli settlements.
  • Revoke the charitable status of Canadian charities which are found to materially support the Israeli military, settlements or occupation.

UPHOLDING INTERNATIONAL LAW FOR PALESTINIANS

  • Use economic and diplomatic tools to pressure the Israeli government to immediately end the occupation and lift the siege on Gaza.
  • Recognize the State of Palestine and support its efforts to seek redress at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • Vote in support of all UN resolutions which aim to uphold Palestinian human rights. 

PROTECTING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ON PALESTINE

  •  Respect the right of Canadians to support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, as non-violent tools of resistance and protected forms of expression. 
  • Reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and commit to fighting antisemitism without conflating it with criticism of Israel, and without undermining free expression and activism for Palestinian human rights.

Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine interviewed committee spokesperson Dania Majid about the objectives of the campaign. Majid is also one of the founders of the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association.

More information about the Vote Palestine campaign can be found here.

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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 http://www.ottawaforumip.org

4 comments

  2. I heartfully found this initiative which gathers my serious concerns about human rights in Palestine. I certainly will vote for a party that contains this in its principles 1. the respect of countries to self-determination and 2. the real conviction for respect of the Universal Human Rights as declared by the UN. Abuses, in particular, by the longest occupation by an apartheid state over a native population, and that has shown disdain for the universal declaration of Human Rights must be one of the fundamental principles of a political party.

  3. The problem is with the way that our Liberal and Conservative parties, is that a few at the top set the agenda and controls. There is not much room for individual MPP’s to voice their true principals or wishes. It’s all dictated by the top few.

    1. Hey Jake, thanks for your thoughts.
      In my experience, our challenge is a lot bigger than that. Try talking to your (non activist) friends about human rights for Palestinians. When I do so, I find a lot of sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians but also a lot of support for Israel and its need to defend itself. I think the Libs and NDP reflect the contradictory feeling that many electors feel.

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