Month: February 2023

Open letter to Canada’s representative in Ramallah about today’s deadly Israeli military raid on Nablus

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.

(more…)

Canadian justices jump to defend Israel’s “independent judiciary” – but ignore the role of the Israeli Supreme Court in allowing abuses of human rights of Palestinians

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...

(more…)

For 50 years, the US superpower has backed Israel against the Palestinians. Now another global power – China – is cautiously getting involved. What will that mean?

China’s President Xi Jin Ping met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas when they were both in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in early December for a China-Arab summit. China has diplomatic relations with both Israel and Palestine and it backs a 2 state solution. But it has recently become more openly supportive of the national aspirations of the Palestinian people and critical of some of Israel’s actions. This must be unsettling for Israel’s American patron. Read more.

(more…)

Amnesty International claims that Israel practices “apartheid”. Is that justified? An OFIP webinar discussed the issue with a Palestinian Israeli politician

Sami Abu Shehada is a Palestinian citizen of Israel. He has been a member of the Tel Aviv/Yafo city council and a member of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament), In a recent webinar organized by the Ottawa Forum on Israel Palestine, OFIP Chair interviewed Sami on whether Amnesty Interntional is right to accuse Israel of apartheid when it comes to its own non-Jewish citizens. Read more and watch the video of the discussion…

(more…)