Montreal, February 6, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is expressing concern over the double standard evident in today’s sanctions announcement by Minister Joly, which imposed sanctions on 11 individuals affiliated with Hamas but no Israeli officials. CJPME notes that Canada has not yet imposed sanctions on a single Israeli, even though the number of Palestinians killed by Israel is more than 20 times the number of Israelis killed on Oct 7, and even as Israel’s actions may plausibly amount to genocide according to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). CJPME urges Canada to bring some proportion to its response by imposing broad sanctions on Israeli leaders responsible for war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including (but not limited to) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Continue reading

Montreal, February 5, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is calling for the resignation of B.C. Minister for Post-Secondary Education Selina Robinson over several incidents that reflect a pattern of anti-Palestinian racism. Last week, remarks surfaced of Robinson using a colonial trope to refer to pre-1948 Palestine as a “crappy piece of land with nothing on it.” The same day, Robinson was criticized for political interference leading to the firing of a professor for their views on Gaza. CJPME calls on B.C. Premier David Eby to demonstrate that racism is not tolerated in the BC NDP, and take immediate action to remove Robinson from her role. Continue reading

Montreal, February 2, 2024 — One week after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found plausible evidence of genocide in Gaza, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen to immediately reverse his decision to redirect aid funding away from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees. CJPME stresses that Canada’s additional $40m in humanitarian aid to Gaza does not compensate for the extraordinary harm that defunding UNRWA will cause, with the UN warning that such actions may cause the collapse of the humanitarian system. CJPME warns that Canada’s defunding of UNRWA may directly violate ICJ’s orders to increase humanitarian aid and prevent genocide. Continue reading

Montreal, January 27, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is outraged by Canada’s decision to suspend funding for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, based on unproven Israeli allegations against a few of its employees. UNRWA is the main humanitarian agency providing services to the population of Gaza. Yesterday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded it is plausible that Israeli-imposed conditions of life in Gaza, including the deprivation of food and water, could be acts of genocide. CJPME urges Canada to immediately reverse its political decision against UNRWA, increase its financial support to the agency, and put concrete pressure on Israel to end its genocidal war and siege. Continue reading

Montreal, January 26, 2024 - Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is angered and disheartened by Canada’s shamefully inadequate response to today’s initial ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In that ruling, the ICJ found that there was a plausible case that Israel’s actions in Gaza could amount to genocide, allowing the case to proceed. The ICJ also ordered Israel to comply with significant provisional measures designed to restrain Israel’s actions and protect Palestinians from ongoing genocidal acts. Continue reading

Montreal, January 26, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomes the historic ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. In its preliminary ruling on South Africa’s application, the ICJ found that Israel’s actions in Gaza could plausibly fall within the Genocide Convention, and ordered Israel to comply with provisional measures that would restrain its genocidal actions. CJPME urges the Canadian government to publicly support the decision of the ICJ and demand that Israel comply with its orders. CJPME believes that, given the nature of Israel’s actions, the ICJ’s emergency measures cannot be reasonably met without a full ceasefire and an end to the bloodshed. Continue reading

Montreal, January 19, 2024 - Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is raising the alarm about yesterday’s comments by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who reiterated his firm opposition to a Palestinian state in any post-war scenario and asserted that Israel will maintain permanent control over all territory “West of the Jordan [river].” CJPME emphasizes that this position is not new, but has been expressed throughout Netanyahu’s career and is explicitly laid out in the Likud charter. Nonetheless, these comments serve as an important reminder that the Israeli political establishment is committed to the permanent oppression of the Palestinian people, and Canadian policy must be adjusted to reflect this reality. Continue reading

Montreal, January 18, 2024 - CJPME has sent the following letter to Justice Minister Arif Virani urging the Canadian government to investigate Canadian nationals who are serving or volunteering with the Israeli military in its war on Gaza. Click here to download the full letter as a PDF   Continue reading

Montreal, January 12, 2024 - Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is outraged by Canada’s refusal to support South Africa’s application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel. Statements issued today by Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Joly state that Canada does not support the “premise” of South Africa's fact-based and compelling case. Tellingly, they are unable to identify any arguments in South Africa’s case that they disagree with. As such, they refuse to address the substance of the case, and retreat to denial. Continue reading

Montreal, January 12, 2023 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is once again calling on the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) to publicly denounce the potentially genocidal remarks of their Israeli Office Director, David M. Weinberg. As Israel attempts to defend itself against genocide charges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), CJPME is appalled by Weinberg’s public commentary which advocates for the Israeli military to reduce Gaza to rubble and calls into question whether there are any innocent civilians in Gaza. CJPME insists that CIJA clarify that they reject and condemn these positions. Continue reading