There are ten Israeli quarries in the West Bank, providing over 12 million tons of stone, gravel, and dolomite for Israeli construction projects each year. A UN resolution has overwhelmingly declared that Israel does not have the right to exploit Palestinian resources on occupied territory. Canada was one of a handful of countries to oppose the motion. Read more….

The State of Israel has been actively exploiting natural resources of Palestine in defiance of several UN resolutions since 1967. The list includes construction materials, mineral wealth from the Dead Sea, and water according to former UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. And Israel has also set its sights on the large reserves of Natural gas lying just off the coast of Gaza. (Some observers speculate this is one of the motivations behind Israel’s determination to take over northern Gaza and drive out the Palestinians.)

A UN committee has decided overwhelmingly that this must stop.

By a recorded vote of 159 in favour to 7 against with 11 abstentions, the UN second committee demanded that “Israel, the occupying Power, cease the exploitation, damage, cause of loss or depletion and endangerment of the natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”

The resolution entitled “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, (…) over their natural resources” reaffirms the principle of the permanent sovereignty of the peoples under foreign occupation over their natural resources and the applicability of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in time of war.

Israel’s delegate objected to the resolution saying it ignored essential facts and is rooted in biased political motives.  “Tragically every resource meant to benefit the Palestinians has been co-opted for Hamas war machinery”, he claimed in a logical non sequitur.

Supporting the resolution, Algeria’s delegate stated that the “damages inflicted on the Occupied Palestinian Territory will have short- and long-term economic and sociological impacts [and] that the Palestinian people continue to suffer from Israeli aggression.”

What about Canada?

Disgracefully, Canada was one of the 7 dissenting nations joining Israel, the United States and a very few others, defending Israel’s right to take Palestinian natural resources. Huh? How might this be justified?

The video of the committee meeting does not reflect any explanatory statement from the Canadian delegation.  Nor can any explanation be found on the website of Global Affairs.  

In theory, Canada supports recognizing a Palestinian state “at the right time”, based on a statement by Foreign Minister Joly in July 2024. Canada has just completed a round of public consultation on the issue.

But apparently NOW is not the right time, and no date has been set. In the meantime, Canada supports Israel’s right to continue to exploit Palestinian resources at will.

This puts Canada sharply at odds with its partners New Zealand, Australia and the European Union, none of whom currently recognize the State of Palestine, but all of whom voted FOR this resolution.

Is Canada contingently liable?

Mme Joly should note that the resolution also recognized the right of the Palestinian people to claim restitution after the fact, as a result of any exploitation, damage, loss or depletion or endangerment of their natural resources resulting from illegal measures taken by Israel or Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. By giving Israel a green light to exploit Palestinian resources, Ms. Joly is making Canada morally, and perhaps even legally, complicit in a war crime.

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.ca