March 15, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the Canadian government’s announcement today of an extra $10 million in funding to UNRWA, the UN aid agency serving Palestinian refugees.  Canada’s pledge was announced in the midst of an emergency summit this week in Rome, and was accompanied by pledges of support by other countries, including Qatar, Italy and others.  The UNRWA faces a funding crisis, exacerbated by the Trump government’s decision to withhold $65 million in pledged funding to the organization.  Continue reading

February 27, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) stands opposed to Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer’s promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital if elected in 2019. Over the weekend, the Conservative Party website encouraged Canadians to sign up if they agree with Scheer that “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.” CJPME laments the Scheer’s disregard for international law and indifference to Israel’s human rights violations. Continue reading

February 15, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to see many human rights-focused resolutions on Palestine slated for the NDP Convention this weekend in Ottawa.  CJPME is an official endorser of one prominent resolution – described as the “Palestine Resolution” – which calls on the NDP to pursue peace in Israel-Palestine by: “Urging all parties to abandon violence and negotiate a resolution grounded in international law, particularly UNGA Resolution 194 and UNSC Resolution 242;” “Calling upon Israel to end its occupation and settlement program, life the Gaza blockade, recognize its Arab-Palestinian citizens’ right to full equality, and address refugee claims fairly;” “Banning settlement products from Canadian markets, and using other forms of diplomatic economic pressure to end the occupation;” “Opposing parliamentary efforts to undermine non-violent movements seeking a just resolution.” Continue reading

Montreal, February 2, 2018  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and the Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF) welcome the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage’s report responding to parliamentary motion M-103, “Systemic racism and religious discrimination.”  Both organizations are pleased to see how the report advances the discussion on religious discrimination in Canada in several keys ways.  However, both organizations are anxious to see how the recommendations will be implemented, and would like to see a clear action plan. Continue reading

Montreal, January 24, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Canadian government to follow the example of the German government vis-à-vis relations with Saudi Arabia.  On January 19th, the German government announced that it will be suspending all arms sales to Saudi Arabia, due to the Saudi documented human rights violations in Yemen. CJPME applauds Germany’s principled position, and calls on the Canadian government to likewise suspend all arms sales to the Saudis. Continue reading

Montreal, December 21, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemns the Trudeau government’s decision to abstain in today’s UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution A/ES-10/L.22.  The resolution demanded that “all States comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.”  Like most Canadians, CJPME considers this UNGA demand to be reasonable and in line with Canada’s supposed wish to support international law and a negotiated two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.  Continue reading

Montreal, December 6, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) opposes the US Trump government’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and begin the process of relocating its embassy to Jerusalem. Like many Canadians, CJPME strongly believes that the world’s governments should not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital until Israel has reached a just peace settlement with the Palestinians. Continue reading

Montreal, November 17, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Liberal government to make important amendments to bill C-47, an arms control bill currently before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  Bill C-47 is a bill intended to enable Canada to accede to the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), but is highly flawed in its original draft.  Late last week, Foreign Affairs Committee chair Bob Nault suggested that the government may allow amendments to the bill, and CJPME strong urges it to do so.   Continue reading

Montreal, October 26, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds Dr. David Kattenburg for his application for judicial review of the decision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in a matter of wines mislabelled as “Product of Israel.”  Kattenburg had originally filed a complaint in March to the CFIA demonstrating that the wines in question were actually being produced in the West Bank – a territory never attributed or recognized as being part of Israel proper. The CFIA ultimately decided that it would allow the wines to continue to be imported and labelled as “Product of Israel” concluding that the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) overrode Canadian consumer protection laws. Continue reading

Montreal, October 17, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is proud to join Amnesty International and nine other civil society organizations* in critiquing the federal government’s proposed arms control legislation encapsulated in Bill C-47. Bill C-47 is a bill intended to enable Canada to accede to the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).  However, CJPME and its NGO partners consider C-47 to be highly flawed, such that Canada would not be fully compliant with the Treaty with the passage of C-47.  CJPME and its partners have issued a joint document highlighting their top 10 concerns with bill C-47. Continue reading