CJPME: On International Human Rights Day, Canada Must Remember Palestinians
Montreal, Dec. 8, 2022 — In observance of International Human Rights Day, celebrated annually on December 10th, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is calling on the Canadian government to defend the human rights of the Palestinian people. CJPME points out that the human rights violations committed against the Palestinians by the Israeli government are particularly long-standing, deeply entrenched, and well-documented, and deserve immediate international attention. Unfortunately, despite the urgency required to address Israel’s abuses, CJPME notes that Canada has repeatedly chosen to ignore them
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CJPME thanks Saint John City Council for raising the Palestinian flag
Montreal, December 5, 2022 - CJPME sent a letter to Saint John City Councillors, to express gratitude to the City of Sain John for raising the Palestinian flag on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Read the full letter below, or click here to download a PDF version.
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CJPME: Today, Canada must stand in solidarity with Palestinians
Montreal, November 29, 2022 — On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) declares its steadfast support for the human rights and the national aspirations of the Palestinian people, whether those living under Israeli military occupation, those living in Israel, or those living as refugees in the diaspora. CJPME’s position is representative of numerous public opinion polls which demonstrate clearly that Canadians want their government to support Palestinian human rights. As such, CJPME also calls on the Canadian government to heed public opinion and its own supposed allegiance to the “international rules-based order,” and to stand with Palestinians by opposing Israeli apartheid.
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Revealed: Canada’s Rejection of Amnesty’s Apartheid Report Not Based on Specific Evidence, according to ATIP request
Montreal, November 21, 2022 — Canada’s rejection of the findings by Amnesty International on Israel’s regime of “apartheid” was not based on specific evidence, as indicated by documents released under the Access to Information Act and obtained by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). The released documents reveal that Global Affairs Canada (GAC)’s response to Amnesty’s landmark report did not identify any specific issue or criticism that would justify rejecting its findings, but that GAC nonetheless concluded that the report “will not alter Canada’s engagement with Israel.” CJPME calls on the Canadian government to meaningfully engage with the consensus on Israel’s apartheid within the human rights sector and immediately implement the recommendations detailed in Amnesty’s report.
Click here for a Timeline of Canada’s Response to Amnesty’s Report
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CJPME: Canada Wrong to Oppose ICJ Investigation into Illegality of Israel’s Occupation
Montreal, November 15, 2022 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is angered by Canada’s opposition to a draft United Nations motion which would request a legal opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation. Last Friday, the UN’s Fourth Committee voted 98-17 to request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory” occupied since 1967, with Canada voting in the minority against the resolution. CJPME considers Israel’s de facto “permanent occupation” over Palestinians to be inhumane and brutal, and urges Canada to support this necessary resolution when it comes to a final vote in the UNGA plenary before the end of the year.
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Advocacy and anti-racism organizations ask London, ON school to issue an apology for anti-Palestinian racist incident
Montreal, November 14, 2022 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and Canadians United Against Hate (CUAH) are calling on the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) to take accountability for an incident of anti-Palestinian racism that occurred when it issued its school dress code on Oct. 31. In the on-line FAQ for the new school dress code, a “Free Palestine” t-shirt was used as an example of school dress which would “promote or incite… violence.”
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CJPME raises urgent human rights concerns with Canada’s Mission in Ramallah
Montreal, November 7, 2022 — Last week in Ramallah, in a meeting with Canada’s mission to the Palestinian Authority, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) drew urgent attention to the issue of Israel’s violent repression of Palestinian human rights organizations.
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Letter to Minister Hussen: Don't Force Grantees to Sign Away the Right to Criticize Israel
Montreal, October 17, 2022 - CJPME sent a letter to Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth, with concerns about the possibility that Canada Heritage may force third-party grantees to sign an attestation form in support of IHRA in order to receive government funding. This poses a serious threat to free expression and may amount to a violation of charter rights. Read the full letter below, or click here to download a PDF version.
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Local and National organizations call upon the City of Calgary to “Keep CAF Out of Calgary”
CJPME is a member of the CAF out of Calgary campaign, which is advocating against the city of Calgary's contract with CAF to expand Calgary's light rail system. CAF is unethically involved in a $2.5 billion CDN contract to expand the Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR) network – a system that further entrenches Israel's brutal apartheid treatment of Palestinians.
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CJPME’s Letter in the Hill Times: Diplomatic push between Morocco and Israel does not represent ‘peace’
Montreal, October 3rd, 2022 - In a letter published by the Hill Times on Monday, October 3, 2022, CJPME's Michael Bueckert pointed out the hypocrisy of the Israel-Morocco pro-occupation agreement, which has been falsely characterized by Israel's supporters as a "peace deal." The text is reproduced below, click here to see the original.
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