Canada joined the U.K., France, and nine other countries who announced they would ban Israeli goods produced in the occupied Palestinian territories as a way to pressure Israel’s government to crack down on settler violence. OFIP asks the Ministers why we don’t also ban the settlers who are committing the violence. Read our letter.

From: OFIP Chair Peter Larson <ofip.chair@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, 11 September 2026 18:21:42
To:lenametlege.diab@parl.gc.ca <lenametlege.diab@parl.gc.ca>; gary.anand@parl.gc.ca <gary.anand@parl.gc.ca>
Subject: Banning settlement goods is a good idea, but what about banning the settlers?

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab,

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Hon. Gary Anandasangaree

Minister of Public Safety (and responsible for Canadian Border Services Agency)

Dear Honourable Ministers,

The Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP) endorses your government’s recent announcement that it intends to join a number of other countries to ban the importation of goods coming from the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank. This is an overdue response to Israel’s brutal program of ethnic cleansing carried out by Israeli settlers under the protection of the Israeli military (IDF).

This decision is in partial compliance with UN Security resolution 2334, which declared that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank is completely illegal and must stop immediately. All settler activity in the West Bank is criminal behaviour according to international law.

While a good first step, the ban announced by Canada makes no mention of those responsible – the settlers themselves. After all, it is not the goods that are causing the ethnic cleansing, but the settlers and their IDF protectors. 

Settlers “Visa exempt”

Canada currently allows those illegal settlers to be “visa exempt” as Israeli citizens. Not only are they able to enter Canada freely, but they can even lobby on Parliament Hill.

On the contrary, citizens of Palestine must pay a fee to apply for a Canadian visa which is frequently denied, often for unclear reasons.

Honourable ministers, OFIP believes that Canadian immigration policy should be driven by both Canadian and international law, including the requirements of UNSC 2334. 

Would it not seem appropriate that Immigration Canada declare that Israeli settlers as well as their goods, are not welcome in Canada?

CBSA could require all Israeli visitors to identify their normal place of residence in Israel and refuse any who normally live, illegally under international law, in the West Bank. Anyone who signs a false declaration would be committing a criminal offense and subject to immediate deportation.

I look forward to your answers to these questions, which I will gladly share with OFIP members and subscribers.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine is the biweekly newsletter of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion about the Israel/Palestine issue from a Canadian perspective. Readers are invited to make comment. To get on our regular mailing list, or to get notices about our monthly webinars with experts from around the world, write: ofip.chair@gmail.com.