Montreal, July 5, 2024 - CJPME has sent a letter to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc urging an end to collaboration with Israel's Ministry of National Security, led by far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Click here to download the full letter as a PDF.
Dear Minister LeBlanc,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to raise our grave concerns regarding your Ministry’s cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of National Security. Israeli abuses of Palestinian detainees are well-known, and Israel’s current Minister of National Security is Itamar Ben-Gvir, a violent far-right extremist whose “torture camps” have been revealed in multiple recent exposés.[1] We are concerned that despite these serious violations of human rights and international law, your Ministry is likely to continue to engage with Ben-Gvir under the terms of the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership, and Public Safety Canada even appears to identify Ben-Gvir as a key contact and important partner. We request full disclosure of the nature of this relationship and seek assurances that all ties with Ben-Gvir and his Ministry will be cancelled.
In the absence of any clarification from Public Safety Canada, we have considerable reason to believe that there is significant ongoing cooperation between the two ministries:
- In 2008, Public Safety Canada and Israel’s corresponding Ministry signed a “Declaration of Intent” to “establish a more structured framework for the continued cooperation on public safety issues between Canada and Israel.”[2]
- In 2014, Canada and Israel signed a MOU establishing the Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership, which includes a section about increased collaboration on public safety. The MOU notes that “Public Safety Canada and the agencies under its portfolio have excellent relations with Israel’s Ministry of [National] Security,” and commits Canada and Israel to meet annually to discuss “mutual priorities,” exchange “best practices and lessons learned,” “develop and deliver joint projects,” and more.[3] A recent statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs confirms that “Canada’s relationship with Israel on defense and security matters” continues to be “governed” by this agreement.[4]
- The Public Safety “Transition Binder” for 2023, which orients new and incoming Ministers, explicitly lists Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as a “key international contact” under the section for “International Partners,”[5] and elsewhere identifies the security minister of Israel as a “key counterpart.”[6]
While my organization has always held serious concerns about Canada-Israel cooperation on matters of public safety due to the Israeli government’s well-documented human rights violations and systemic use of torture against Palestinians,[7] these concerns have been significantly aggravated with the Israeli ministry falling under the leadership of Ben-Gvir, who immediately “targeted the most basic rights” of Palestinian political prisoners once coming to power.[8] Ben-Gvir is the leader of Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), a far-right and racist party with origins in Kahanism, a fascist and terroristic movement which calls for the expulsion of Palestinians from Israel.[9] He is a former youth activist in the Kach party, which is proscribed as a terrorist organization in Canada according to the Public Safety Canada website,[10] has openly celebrated the Kahanist terrorist Baruch Goldstein as a hero,[11] and was convicted in 2008 of racist incitement and support for a terrorist organization.[12]
In the context of the current assault on Gaza, Ben-Gvir has overseen the widespread detention of Palestinian detainees in facilities that amount to torture camps.[13] At least 21,000 Palestinian detainees have been held since October 7, 2023, many without charge or trial.[14] Prisoners have reported experiencing “daily torture” including “assaults with batons and dogs, deprivation of food and medicine, as well as physical and psychological humiliation.”[15] Most notorious is the Sde Teiman camp in the Negev, which has been described by the first lawyer to visit the facility as “more horrific than anything we’ve heard about Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo,”[16] with reports of systemic torture and abuse, extreme deprivation of food and amenities, and the rape and sexual assault of detainees.[17] Dozens of detainees have died in unknown circumstances, and others have had their limbs amputated due to injuries from “constant handcuffing.” In a connected field hospital, “wounded detainees are strapped to their beds, wearing diapers and fed through straws.”[18]
Ben-Gvir has repeatedly advocated for executing Palestinian detainees as a solution to the overcrowding of prisons,[19] and has reportedly asked the Israeli military to kill Palestinians instead of arresting them.[20] He has also boasted of reducing prison standards to what he says is the bare minimum allowed by law, including ordering a reduction in food rations to the point of starvation.[21] Following reports of the deteriorating conditions, he confirmed on social media that "everything published about the abominable conditions" of Palestinians in Israeli jails "was true."[22] Israel has prevented the Red Cross from visiting or receiving information about Palestinian detainees since October 7, and is planning on making this ban permanent, in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.[23]
Israel’s public prosecutor is reportedly seeking to lay criminal charges against Ben-Gvir for “incitement to violence,” including his statements advocating for forcibly expelling the Palestinian population of Gaza and rebuilding Israeli settlements.[24] This is understood as an attempt by Israel to avert a ruling on genocide from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), since Ben-Gvir’s own words have been cited as a possible expression of genocidal intent.[25]
Canada’s ongoing commitments to collaborate with Ben-Gvir’s Ministry, for example via the Strategic Partnership, raises the alarming possibility of Canadian complicity in the above abuses. Canadians do not want to partner with states that run torture camps. If Canada maintains this relationship with an international leader accused of genocide before the ICJ, Canada could find itself complicit in atrocity crimes and grave violations of international law. The urgency of this situation demands the immediate cancellation of all Canada-Israel collaboration, including through the termination of the MOU. I formally request the following information from you and your office:
- What communication and/or engagement have you or your Ministry had with Itamar Ben-Gvir or Israel’s Ministry of National Security since December 29, 2022, and especially after October 7, 2023?
- Can you confirm whether you or your Ministry consider Itamar Ben-Gvir to be an “important partner,” as noted in the Public Safety Transition Binder for 2023? What criteria does your Ministry use to trigger a review of the status of international partners accused of serious crimes?
- Will you commit to cancelling all cooperation with Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Ministry? Would you also commit to publishing the criteria by which any replacement of Ben-Gvir would be evaluated, given the long-standing Israeli practices of torture and other violations that pre-date his leadership?
I look forward to hearing from you regarding this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Michael Bueckert, PhD
Vice President
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
CC:
Jennifer O’Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs (Cybersecurity)
Shawn Tupper, Deputy Minister, Public Security Canada
Members of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security
Raquel Dancho, Conservative Critic for Public Safety
Kristina Michaud, Bloc Québécois Critic for Public Safety
Alistair MacGregor, NDP Critic for Public Safety
Lisa Stadelbauer, Ambassador of Canada to Israel
David Da Silva, Representative of Canada to the Palestinian Authority
Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group
[1] CNN, “Strapped down, blindfolded, held in diapers: Israeli whistleblowers detail abuse of Palestinians in shadowy detention center,” May 11, 2024, https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/10/middleeast/israel-sde-teiman-detention-whistleblowers-intl-cmd/index.html; New York Times, “Inside the base where Israel has detained thousands of Gazans,” June 6, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-detention-base.html ; +972 Magazine, “The writing was on the wall for Israel’s torture of prisoners,” May 14, 2024, https://www.972mag.com/sde-teiman-torture-prisoners/
[2] Government of Canada, “Canada and Israel Sign Declaration to Cooperate on Public Safety,” March 23, 2008, https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2008/03/canada-israel-sign-declaration-cooperate-public-safety.html
[3] Note: Israel’s Ministry of Public Safety was renamed the Ministry of National Security in 2022. Government of Canada, “Canada-Israel Strategic Partnership MOU,” January 21, 2014, https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2014/01/canada-israel-strategic-partnership-mou.html
[4] Response from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Parliamentary petition e-4645, signed by Parliamentary Secretary Rob Oliphant. Response tabled June 3, 2024, https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4745
[5] Public Safety Canada, “Key Contacts and Stakeholders,” Public Safety Canada 2023 Transition - Reference Book, last modified November 23, 2023. https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/trnstn-bndrs/20231123-1/06-en.aspx
[6] Public Safety Canada, “International Engagement,” Public Safety Canada 2023 Summer – Issues Book, last modified November 23, 2023, https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/trnstn-bndrs/20231123-2/10-en.aspx
[7] CJPME Factsheet 39, “Canada-Israel ‘Public Safety’ Cooperation,” May 2008, https://www.cjpme.org/fs_039
[8] Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, “Occupation policies; The rights of prisoners in occupation prisons,” July 4, 2024, https://www.addameer.org/media/5374
[9] Noam Sheizaf, “Kahanism’s triumphant makeover,” +972 Magazine, October 3, 2022, https://www.972mag.com/ben-gvir-kahanism-election/; Institute for Middle East Understanding, “Factsheet: Meir Kahane & The Extremist Kahanist Movement,” February 23, 2021, https://imeu.org/article/fact-sheet-meir-kahane-the-extremist-kahanist-movement
[10] Public Safety Canada describes Kach as follows: “Kahane Chai (Kach) is a marginal, extremist Jewish entity whose goal is the restoration of the biblical state of Israel, replacing democracy with theocracy. Kahane Chai (Kach) advocates expelling Arabs from Israel, expanding Israel's boundaries to include the occupied territories and parts of Jordan, and the strict implementation of Jewish law in Israel. Kahane Chai (Kach) has openly espoused violence against Arabs and the Israeli government as a viable method for establishing a religiously homogenous state. Its activities have included threats to government officials and infrastructure, grenade attacks, armed violence, and bombings.” Public Safety Canada, “Currently listed entities,” entry on Kahane Chai (Kach), listed May 24, 2005 and last reviewed June 7, 2024, https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx#42 .
[11] New Yorker, “Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of Chaos,” February 20, 2023, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/27/itamar-ben-gvir-israels-minister-of-chaos
[12] “Netanyahu Taps Ben-Gvir to Head Team ‘Fighting Terror Incitement by Palestinians,’” Haaretz, February 19, 2023, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-19/ty-article/.premium/ben-gvir-to-head-team-that-will-fight-terror-incitement-by-palestinians/00000186-6a21-dba0-a5c6-7a7dec6a0000
[13] +972 Magazine, “Inside Israel’s torture camp for Gaza detainees,” January 5, 2024, https://www.972mag.com/israel-torture-camp-gaza-detainees/
[14] The New Arab, “Ben-Gvir says Palestinian prisoners should be killed, boasts of 'abominable' prison conditions,” July 3, 2024, https://www.newarab.com/news/ben-gvir-boasts-abominable-palestinian-prisoner-conditions
[15] The Guardian, “Freed Gaza hospital head accuses Israel of repeated torture,” July 1, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/01/freed-gaza-hospital-head-accuses-israel-of-repeated-torture
[16] +972 Magazine, “‘More horrific than Abu Ghraib’: Lawyer recounts visit to Israeli detention center,” June 27, 2024, https://www.972mag.com/sde-teiman-prisoners-lawyer-mahajneh/
[17] CNN, “Strapped down, blindfolded, held in diapers: Israeli whistleblowers detail abuse of Palestinians in shadowy detention center,” May 11, 2024, https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/10/middleeast/israel-sde-teiman-detention-whistleblowers-intl-cmd/index.html; New York Times, “Inside the base where Israel has detained thousands of Gazans,” June 6, 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-detention-base.html ; +972 Magazine, “The writing was on the wall for Israel’s torture of prisoners,” May 14, 2024, https://www.972mag.com/sde-teiman-torture-prisoners/
[18] CNN, “Strapped down, blindfolded, held in diapers: Israeli whistleblowers detail abuse of Palestinians in shadowy detention center,” May 11, 2024, https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/10/middleeast/israel-sde-teiman-detention-whistleblowers-intl-cmd/index.html
[19] The New Arab, “Ben-Gvir says Palestinian prisoners should be killed, boasts of 'abominable' prison conditions,” July 3, 2024, https://www.newarab.com/news/ben-gvir-boasts-abominable-palestinian-prisoner-conditions
[20] Times of Israel, “Ben Gvir said to ask IDF chief why so many Gaza gunmen arrested: ‘Can’t you kill some?’” April 27, 2024, https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gvir-said-to-ask-idf-chief-why-so-many-gaza-gunmen-arrested-cant-you-kill-some/
[21] Haaretz, “Israel Reduces Food for Palestinian Security Prisoners, Conceals Data, Sources Say,” June 26, 2024, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-06-26/ty-article/.premium/israel-reduces-food-for-palestinian-security-prisoners-conceals-data-sources-say/00000190-542e-de5e-abd0-ff7ee9580000
[22] The New Arab, “Ben-Gvir says Palestinian prisoners should be killed, boasts of 'abominable' prison conditions,” July 3, 2024, https://www.newarab.com/news/ben-gvir-boasts-abominable-palestinian-prisoner-conditions
[23] Association for Civil Rights in Israel, “Repeal the Ban on Red Cross Visits to Palestinian Prisoners,” June 19, 2024, https://www.english.acri.org.il/post/repeal-the-ban-on-red-cross-visits-to-palestinian-prisoners
[24] https://www.jns.org/report-state-prosecutor-seeking-criminal-probe-against-ben-gvir-over-gaza-incitement/
[25] Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), International Court of Justice, https://www.icj-cij.org/case/192/institution-proceedings