Author: Peter Larson

“Change” not yet evident in Trudeau’s policy toward Israel/Palestine

During the longest election campaign in Canadian history, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau seemed to have one objective with respect to the Israel/Palestine issue – keep  it off the agenda.

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When Prime Minister Harper bragged about his support for Israel during the first televised debate, Mulcair jumped in to go one better. But Trudeau deftly sidelined the discussion. “We are all in agreement on this issue”, commented Trudeau. It now seems that he meant it.

Read more about Trudeau’s strategy. (more…)

We’re back!!: a report on a recent Canadian tour to Israel/Palestine

A group of 13 Canadians has just completed a fascinating 2 week tour of Israel, Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Organized under the umbrella of the National Education Committee on Israel/Palestine, the group travelled extensively – from the Lebanese border in the north to the Negev desert in the south. We visited the Knesset and the Holocaust Museum as well as some of the key religious sites. In all, we met 23 Palestinian and Israeli NGO’s, politicians, students and local leaders, in addition to having many casual conversations with individual citizens.

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Travelling in our own minibus with driver and guide was safe and efficient (and fun)

Overall the trip was exciting, illuminating and exhausting. Each trip participant will draw his/her own conclusions.

See 10 of my own observations here.

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Let’s regain a reputation for fairness with respect to Israel/Palestine – some suggestions for Prime Minister-elect Trudeau

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As Prime Minister-elect Trudeau is at work deciding who will be in his cabinet, his key staff will also be drafting “mandate letters’ which give new ministers instructions on what the PM expects them to do in their portfolios. In an open letter, I make a number of suggestions with respect to the Israel/Palestine issue.  See my letter.

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Coming to Ottawa – Two prominent Jews, with two very different views on the Israel/Palestine conflict
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Yuval Rabin, son of an Israeli prime minister assassinated by a right wing jewish fanatic, will speak in Ottawa on October 15th

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Filmmaker Lia Tarachansky will show her film and talk about the violent process of ethnic cleansing through which the State of Israel was created.

With tension rising in Jerusalem, Israel and the West Bank, interest is rising in understanding the sources of conflict in Israel/Palestine and possible solutions. In the next 3 weeks, Ottawa residents will have the opportunity to hear two prominent Jewish Israeli intellectuals with very different views on the root causes of the Israel/Palestine conflict. For details read on. (more…)