Montreal, September 16, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to vote for a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution this week which demands a swift end to Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. The vote, scheduled for September 18 during the UNGA’s 10th emergency session, will reaffirm the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion of July and demand an end to Israel’s illegal presence in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem within the next year. CJPME warns that Canada’s last remaining credibility on international law is at stake if it chooses to vote against the ICJ’s legal opinion.

“The World Court was crystal clear. All states, including Canada, are obliged to help bring an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories as soon as possible,” said Michael Bueckert, Vice President of CJPME. “This week’s UNGA vote is a critical opportunity for Canada to demonstrate its support for Palestinian human rights and self-determination, and to show that the supposed ‘rules-based international order applies to everyone, including Israel,” added Bueckert.

In its authoritative Advisory Opinion of July 19, 2024, the ICJ concluded that Israel’s prolonged occupation, settlement expansion, annexation of territory, and apartheid policies have made its continued presence in the OPT illegal, and declared that Israel is obliged to bring an end to the occupation as rapidly as possible. The draft resolution brought before the UNGA welcomes these findings and demands that Israel bring an end to its unlawful presence in the OPT within the subsequent 12 months.

The Advisory Opinion also emphasized that all states, including Canada, are under obligation to cooperate with the UN in bringing an end to Israel’s occupation, and are not to render any aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT. Along these lines, the UNGA resolution urges states to comply by “taking steps towards ceasing the importation of products originating in the Israeli settlements, as well as the provision or transfer of arms, munitions and relations equipment that may be used in the Territory.” The resolution also urges all states to help bring an end to Israel’s racial segregation and apartheid against Palestinians, as identified by the ICJ, and to implement sanctions on actors responsible for maintaining the illegal occupation.

“Canada has significantly eroded its own credibility on the world stage by continuing to shield Israel from accountability. If Trudeau votes against this resolution, the entire world will witness Canada choose to uphold the colonial interests of Israel’s illegal occupation instead of siding with Palestinian freedom. We are hoping that he will make the right choice,” added Bueckert

CJPME is concerned that Canada may decline to support, or possibly even oppose this important resolution. The Trudeau government responded hesitantly (and a week late) to the ICJ in a joint statement with Australia and New Zealand, which called on Israel to “respond substantively to the ICJ’s advisory opinion.” However, while the statement affirmed that Israel’s settlement activity was illegal, it ignored the ICJ’s main findings on the illegality of Israel’s presence in the OPT itself. CJPME recalls that the Trudeau government had repeatedly attempted to prevent the ICJ from rendering a decision in the first place: in December 2022, Canada voted “No” on the UNGA resolution requesting the opinion from the ICJ, and in August 2023 Canada urged the ICJ to “decline the request” and turn down the case.

About CJPME – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is a non-profit and secular organization bringing together men and women of all backgrounds who labour to see justice and peace take root again in the Middle East. Its mission is to empower decision-makers to view all sides with fairness and to promote the equitable and sustainable development of the region.

For more information, please contact Michael Bueckert, VP CJPME, 613-315-7947

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East www.cjpme.org

The whole or parts of this press release can be reproduced without permission.