Canadians Demand Support for Palestinian Human Rights at UN

Montreal, November 27, 2019  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and other groups and individuals across Canada are demanding that the federal government strengthen its support of international law and human rights at the UN. Each year at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), about 15 resolutions relating to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories are brought to vote. While Canada last week voted in support of Palestinian self-determination, it also voted against several other resolutions supporting Palestinian human rights and justice. Given the poor record of the Trudeau government, CJPME and others have launched campaigns to send the government a clear message that it cannot “cherry pick” violations of international law and human rights.   Continue reading

 

CJPME Thanks Canada for Lone Vote in Support of Palestinian Self-Determination

Montreal, November 20th, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) thanks the Liberal government for yesterday’s vote in support of Palestinian self-determination at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). CJPME notes that yesterday marks the first time in nearly fifteen years that Canada has cast a vote in favour of Palestinian self-determination, breaking its pattern of voting against Palestinian human rights at the UN. CJPME calls on the Canadian government to apply a more balanced, consistent approach to its votes at the UN on Palestine-Israel, in accordance with international law and official Canadian foreign policy. Continue reading

 

CJPME: US Government Doesn’t Dictate the Law on Israel-Palestine

Montreal, November 19th, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) decries the American government’s ridiculous attempt to legitimize Israel’s illegal colonies (aka “settlements.”) CJPME calls on all Canadian political parties to immediately reject the Trump administration’s “decree” on the matter, and to condemn Israel’s ongoing colonial ambitions in Palestinian territory.  Continue reading

 

CJPME: Violence Against Iraqi Protesters Must End

Montreal, November 19th, 2019 — Alongside fifteen Canadian civil society organizations, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) has signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concerning the increasingly unstable human rights situation in Iraq. The letter calls on the incoming Liberal government to intervene to end the violence and human rights violations which have characterized the Iraqi government’s response to the popular protests in Iraq since October.    Continue reading

 

CJPME: Canada Must Condemn Israeli Killings of Palestinian Civilians in Gaza

Montreal, November 15, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is deeply disturbed by the Canadian government’s one-sided response to the violence erupting in Gaza. CJPME calls on the Canadian government to condemn Israel’s killings in Gaza and follow through on its 2018 promise to establish an independent investigation to thoroughly examine the facts on the ground. Continue reading

 

Palestinian-Canadian Community Calls for Human Rights Leadership from Trudeau Gov’t

Montreal, October 28, 2019 — With several Palestinian-Canadian organizations, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) has signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling the new Liberal government to show leadership on human rights in Palestine-Israel.  In addition to CJPME, the letter is signed by 13 other Canadian civic organizations, most of them representing the Palestinian-Canadian community in various cities across Canada.  While congratulating Trudeau on his election win, the signatories to the letter call Trudeau to a higher human rights standard, enumerating six areas of need. Continue reading

 

Election Result Unlikely to Improve Canada’s Stance on Human Rights in Middle East

Montreal, October 22, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is not optimistic that Canada’s attitude toward human rights in the Middle East will change following the most recent federal elections.  Among other issues, Canada has come under harsh domestic and international criticism for its refusal to abandon arms sales to Saudi Arabia, despite that country’s atrocious human rights record.  Canada also continues to vote with a small minority at the UN, in an effort to shield Israel from criticism for its human rights abuses.  On these and other positions, Canada’s behaviour is unlikely to improve with the most recent election result.  Continue reading

 

CJPME hosts renowned foreign correspondent Robert Fisk

Montreal, October 16, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is delighted to announce an ambitious ten-city Canadian lecture tour by veteran foreign correspondent and author Robert Fisk.  The tour will start in Montreal on November 6, and will end in Vancouver on November 16. Dr. Fisk’s lectures, entitled “Tweets and ‘Deals of the Century’: How to join the Arab world's sectarian war under the guise of peace,” will focus on the chaos resulting from US President Trump’s indecipherable Mideast policy. Continue reading

 

CJPME Calls Canada to Oppose Additional Bloodshed in Syria

Montreal, October 11, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls Canada to oppose the Turkish offensive in northern Syria, fearing that it will endanger civilians and reignite bloodshed.  Turkey launched the offensive following US President Trump’s decision to withdraw US soldiers from a border region of Syria.  A human rights organization, CJPME does not take political positions, but opposes actions that put civilians at risk, violate human rights, or enflame tensions.  Continue reading

 

CJPME: Party Principles Fall Short on Middle East Policy

Montreal, October 2, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to release its “2019 Election Guide” analyzing the positions of Canada’s main five political parties on key Middle East issues. While party positions vary, CJPME found that most Canadian political parties fail to consistently uphold human rights in their Middle East Policy. By providing an analysis of what parties have said and done on key issues, CJPME hopes to better inform voters prior to this month’s election. Continue reading