“A total outrage against a fragile city,” says Haifa-born architect Moshe Safdie, of a proposed cable-car for Jerusalem. The cable car project is promoted by Israeli settler groups who want to reinforce the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem. It would allow visitors to visit Jewish sites without encountering Arabs. It has faced opposition not only from Palestinians whose neighbourhoods will be defaced, but also from many Jews both inside and outside Israel. Read more. (more…)
The Israel lobby has been very active in this election, attacking candidates who are critical of Israel by claiming they are “anti-Semitic” and demanding that parties drop them. In some cases, it worked and parties flinched. But not always. Its campaign against NDP candidate Miranda Gallo (above) failed. Has the Israel lobby gone to the well too many times? Read more. (more…)
Israeli President Reuvin Rivlin will decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu (r) gets to form a new Likud government, or if that privilege will go to Benny Ganz (l), Netanyahu’s former top general and leader of the “Blue and White” party. The election revealed some interesting paradoxes about Israel. Read more.
About the Speaker
Robert Massoud is Palestinian-Canadian. In 2004, he founded Zatoun, Fair Trade olive oil from Palestine to serve as a symbol of light, hope and peace in North America. The oil is available mostly through faith communities, the grassroots and fair trade network.
Robert is invited to speak to a wide range of audiences including faith groups, activist networks and student bodies with a unique message of creative participation and nonviolent resistance engaging North Americans to learn and be in solidarity with Palestinians and their struggle for a just peace for Israel-Palestine. His message is that Israel-Palestine is of direct interest to all humanity and its resolution vital to peace in the world and ultimately to the health of the planet.
NOTE: If you miss Robert at the OFIP lunch, he will also be speaking at these other times and locations in Ottawa:
Saturday, Sep 28 @ 7:00 p.m. : The Zatoun Story: From Palestine To Canada
First Unitarian Congregation
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 10:00 am: A Story from the Land of Miracles (sermon)
Emmanuel United Church
Monday, Sep 30 @ 7:00 pm: The Taste of Peace
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
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Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is a weekly newsletter which encourages and promotes a thoughtful discussion among Canadians on the Israel/Palestine issue, including a well informed and sensitive discussion about solutions. CTIP encourages serious people who disagree with any column to make comment. Disagreements respectfully offered are welcome. To learn more about what CTIP does, contact us at chair.ctip@gmail.com.
Retired Canadian diplomat Michael Shenstone at home in Ottawa, March 2015. He died peacefully on September 9, 2019, in Toronto. He was 91. His diplomatic career began in Lebanon in 1954, only 6 years after the creation of the State of Israel. “I visited many refugee camps. It was clear that something terrible, and terribly unfair, had happened to the Palestinians,” he told me. Read more. (more…)
