universities

UWO rejects pressure from Israeli lobby group over UN special rapporteur

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UN Watch, a pro-Israel lobby group based in Geneva has attacked the University of Western Ontario for providing office support to law professor Michael Lynk, who was named two years ago by the UN as a Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories. Western’s president has refused to back down. Read more… (more…)

Announcing CTIP – a new Canadian human rights organization

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On May 26th 2016, group of Ottawa citizens concerned with human rights in the middle east founded a new Canadian human rights organization called “Canada Talks Israel Palestine” or CTIP for short.

With the founding of CTIP, we formally ended our previous relationship with the National Council on Canada Arab Relations (or NCCAR). CTIP has a new mission, basis of unity and executive committee.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) – Who we are

Mission

Canada Talks Israel/Palestine (CTIP) is an independent not-for-profit Canadian organization whose mission is to help Canadians better understand the history and current challenges facing those living in Israel/Palestine, and to advocate for human rights and equality for all those who live there.

Basic Principles

CTIP is founded on 5 basic principles:

  1. Respect for and application of international law and relevant UN resolutions, including a just solution for Palestinian refugees;
  2. Equality and democracy for all those who live in Israel/Palestine;
  3. Respect for human rights and protection of minorities;
  4. Rejection of all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia;
  5. Respect for historical accuracy.

Membership

Membership in CTIP is open to anyone resident in Canada who:

  • Agrees with the basic principles;
  • Agrees to work in a co-operative and helpful manner;
  • Agrees to pay his/her annual dues (currently $20/year)

Activities

CTIP carries out the following core activities:

  • Educational presentations for external public;
  • Annual program of invited speakers;
  • Workshops for members and Palestinian human rights activists;
  • Active blog and social media presence on Israel/Palestine issues;
  • Educational tours to Israel/Palestine;
  • Applied research aimed at understanding how to change Canadian opinion-makers’ perception of the Israel/Palestine issue.

Executive committee

  • Chair, Peter Larson, email: chair.ctip@gmail.com
  • Vice Chair, Grafton Ross

Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue. If you support our educational mission, why not join? Or make a donation? Or learn more about what we do?  Contact us at membership.ctip@gmail.com.

Campus roundup: The struggle at Durham College to defend Palestinian human rights not over

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The struggle to support Palestinian human rights at Durham College has taken many twists. A motion by the Student’s Association to support a boycott of Israel was only the first step. Lots of other players got in the action. Read our special campus correspondent’s report… (more…)