CJPME Factsheet 124, published November, 2011: This factsheet provides an analysis of the possibilities, consequences and benefits of a Palestinian bid for UN membership. As a UN member state, Palestinians would be allowed to request the formal protections afforded to a country under the UN and under international law. Should Israel persists in occupying Palestinian land or blockading Gaza after an “independent Palestinian state” becomes a UN member, Israel will be violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a recognized UN member state. Ultimately, UN membership entails Palestinians would no longer suffer the indignity of being stateless. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 138, published October, 2011: Occupy Wall Street, or simply the “Occupy” Movement was a movement which started in New York City and quickly spread.  This factsheets discusses the origins of the movement, and its critique of big money and manipulative and controlling international companies. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 139, published October, 2011: This factsheet examines the significance of the Tunisian elections in 2011, coming out of the Arab Spring.  The elections came just months after a revolution sparked by several months of protests triggered by the self-immolition of a Tunisian merchant by the name of Mohamed Bouazizi. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 137, published September, 2011: This factsheet provides a summary analysis of the Palmer Report, a commission appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki‐moon to hold an inquiry over Israel’s attack on the Gaza Aid Flotilla in 2010. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 135, published August, 2011: This factsheet examines the response to the Passfield White Paper, a historic British statement of policy on Palestine from 1930. The White Paper was critical of Zionist organizations for meddling in the governance of Palestine. Then British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald issued his own statement in order to appease mounting Zionist criticism, this document would be known to Arabs as the “Black Letter.” Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 134, published August, 2011: This factsheet provides an overview of the numerous actions by Israel’s government that have prevented the resumption of negotiations with Palestinian officials. This factsheet also highlights Canada’s position on the impasse, as well as the Harper government’s failure to promote a symmetrical bilateral negotiation that ensures fairness to the weaker of the two parties, the Palestinians. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 131, published August, 2011: This factsheet provides a historical overview of the emergence of Fatah and Hamas, their political and ideological differences, and their struggle for power until the 2011 Unity Agreement. Palestinian political reconciliation between Fatah, Hamas and 11 other Palestinian factions strengthen their efforts to garner international support, recognition and ultimately, statehood. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 130, published July, 2011: This factsheet looks at the Palestinian and Israeli treatment of prisoners. Whereas the 2006 kidnap of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit made international headlines, the world remained silent about the 5,383 Palestinian prisoners detained by the Israeli Prison Service (IPS). Canada, which has ratified several human rights treaties pertaining to arrests, imprisonment and torture, remains silent on the subject of Palestinian prisoners and the conditions of their imprisonment. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 136, published July, 2011: This factsheets reviews Tariq Ramadan’s valuable contributions to the study of Islam and its significance in Western societies. Ramadan is a distinguished academic, philosopher and writer. His work has been hailed and criticized by Muslims and Westerners alike. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 128, published July, 2011: This factsheet provides a summary analysis of the numerous discriminatory laws recently enacted by Israel, as well as the many bills that may be passed in the near future. These Israeli measures limit access to education, employment, housing and land by imposing new conditions almost impossible for Palestinians to meet. Others propose to treat political prisoners arbitrarily and inhumanely as a pressure tactic during prisoner negotiations. Continue reading