Montreal, February 23, 2021 — Like many Canadians, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is deeply alarmed by Israel’s actions which impede the ability of Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip to access COVID-19 vaccines. Last week, when the Palestinian Authority tried to send its first shipment of vaccines (2,000 Sputnik V doses) for medical staff in Gaza, Israel blocked its entry for days. Meanwhile, Israeli politicians debated leveraging the shipment in return for extracting political concessions. CJPME urges the Canadian government to demand an immediate end to Israel’s illegal blockading of vaccines, and demand a promise from Israel that it will no longer endanger the lives of Palestinians by playing “vaccine politics.” Continue reading

This week, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) sent letters to two social media companies, Facebook and Twitter, urging them to reject calls to adopt the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism.  Continue reading

Yesterday, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) launched a campaign urging the Canadian government to cancel its 36 million dollar drone contract with Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems. Announced in December 2020, the stated purpose for this “civilian” drone is environmental surveillance in the arctic. However, Palestinian civil society and anti-war groups have raised concerns about the harmful role of Elbit Systems and its products in Israeli violations of human rights and international law in the occupied Palestinian territory. Continue reading

Montreal, February 8, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomes the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) giving the green light to a possible investigation into war crimes by Israeli officials. On Friday, the ICC’s pre-trial chamber concluded that the ICC has territorial jurisdiction to conduct an investigation in Palestine, and specifically in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. CJPME urges the Canadian government to cease its political attempts to influence the court to drop the investigation. Continue reading

On February 2, 2021, the Coalition of Canadian Palestinian Organizations sent a letter to Minister Gould in response to her announcement that Canada would be investigating recent allegations by pro-Israel groups against UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees. CJPME has endorsed this letter, alongside the Canadian Arab Institute and Independent Jewish Voices Canada. Continue reading

Montreal, January 29, 2021  — On the fourth anniversary of the Quebec Mosque massacre, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) warmly welcomes the recent announcement by the federal government that January 29th will now be recognized as a “National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.” The recognition of January 29 is a significant accomplishment for CJPME and allied organizations who have been advocating for this outcome for years. Continue reading

Montreal, January 27, 2021  — In conjunction with the Canadian Muslim Forum (CMF), Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) released today an open letter to Canada’s political and civic leaders, calling them to take concrete action to oppose Islamophobia in Canada.  The letter cited the fourth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, and reflected on how little has improved for Muslim-Canadians since the 2017 attack.  The letter identifies five areas of action for political and civic leaders in hopes of improving opportunities and protections for Muslim-Canadians.  Continue reading

Montreal, January 20, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) released today its submission to the University of Toronto’s External Review process, which is investigating allegations of inappropriate conduct in the University of Toronto’s hiring process for the directorship position of its International Human Rights Program (IHRP). In its submission, CJPME criticizes the UofT’s alleged revocation of a job offer to Dr. Valentina Azarova based on her scholarship on Israel’s occupation. CJPME’s submission also explores this incident in the context of broader campaigns to shut down critical scholarship on Israel-Palestine. Continue reading

Montreal, January 14, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is outraged by vague criticisms made by the Bloc Québécois (BQ) against new Transport Minister Omar Alghabra which amount to anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia. As reported by the Canadian Press, BQ leader Yves-François Blanchet said on Wednesday that “questions arise” from Mr. Alghabra’s former role as president of the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF). Blanchet reportedly suggested that Alghabra was associated with "the political Islamic movement," but declined to accuse Alghabra of any specific wrongdoing. The CAF is a secular organization. CJPME considers such vague aspersions to be racist and Islamophobic against Alghabra, a Syrian-Canadian and Muslim. Continue reading

Montreal, January 12, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds Israel’s largest and preeminent human rights organization B’Tselem for its declaration that Israel must be properly understood as an “apartheid” regime. In a groundbreaking new position paper, B’Tselem describes Israeli apartheid as “a regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.” As B’Tselem executive director Hagai El-Ad wrote in an accompanying opinion piece, "There is not a single square inch in the territory Israel controls where a Palestinian and a Jew are equal." Continue reading