From California grapes to South African oranges to Montgomery’s buses – boycotts are a respected tradition in America as a non violent way to promote change. The right to promote a boycott is protected by the US constitution which protects freedom of speech. But what about BDS – the movement to boycott Israel? Attempts to make it illegal have prompted a growing debate in the US over freedom of speech. Read more. (more…)
Well known Israeli novelist Amos Oz, widely respected as a man of letters, is dead of cancer at 79. Many Israeli (and North American) Jews saw Oz as a “peace activist” because of his strong stand against the occupation. But others note he remained a committed Zionist who supported Israel’s creation and its continued existence as a Jewish state to the detriment of the Palestinians. Read more….
Adrian Jacobs, a 62 year old indigenous person returned to Israel/Palestine on a tour organized by the United Church of Canada 25 years after his first trip in 1992. In his thank you letter to the organizers he indicated he now has a different impression. Read more… (more…)
Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Palestinian Canadian doctor, was shot in both legs last May by an Israeli sniper in Gaza. He was one of 1700 wounded on that day alone. He talked about what he saw and felt at a recent lecture organized in Toronto by Canadian Friends of Sabeel. Learn more…
Members of Parliament are debating legislation to update the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement. But it’s not all going smoothly. The NDP and Bloc Québecois are demanding an end to the mislabeling of Israeli settlement goods as “Product of Israel.” Meanwhile, a Canadian citizen’s case alleging improper labelling of Israeli settlement wines has reached the Federal Court of Canada. Will they succeed? Read more…
