Montreal, Jan. 20, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on the Liberal government to restore funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – the international agency that supports Palestinian refugees.  With their more balanced approach to the Palestine-Israeli conflict, previous Liberal governments consistently ensured that Canada was regularly one of the top 10 donor countries to UNRWA.  Under the Harper government, however, UNRWA funding slipped and then was cut entirely after 2012.  CJPME believes that one of the first steps in restoring Canada’s international credibility will be the resumption of its support for UNRWA. Continue reading

Montreal, Dec. 17, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) joins with other Canadians to protest the wanton shooting of Canadian Rehab Nazzal by an Israeli Army soldier in Bethlehem last Friday.  Nazzal, currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Western Ontario was shot while doing research in Bethlehem to investigate the impact of robotic and unconventional Israeli surveillance and crowd control techniques on Palestinian civilians.  Shot in the leg, Nazzal is expected to recover fully. Continue reading

Montreal, Dec. 11, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) joins with other Canadians in welcoming the first group of refugees from Syria under the Liberal government’s new policy.  In a symbolic inauguration of the government’s new Syrian refugee initiative, 163 refugees arrived in Toronto late Thursday night.  CJPME had been critical for years of the previous government’s parsimonious and closed-minded attitude toward Syrian refugees.  As such, the approach of the new Liberal government is refreshing, and CJPME views the first wave of Syrian refugees as the launch an exciting new era for Canada.   Continue reading

Montreal, Nov. 29, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) asserts that several of Canada’s recent votes at the United Nations (UN) are entirely unrepresentative of the position of the majority of Canadians. In annual votes concerning Israel, Palestine and related issues, the Liberal government continued a disturbing trend established by the previous Harper government of supporting untenable Israeli positions in the face of overwhelming international opposition. On six resolutions, Canada joined Israel, the US and four tiny Pacific island nations in extremely lopsided losses (details below.)  Continue reading

Montreal, Nov. 14, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) joins the many voices worldwide condemning the terrorist attacks that occurred Friday in Paris, killing at least 129.  While details are still emerging, French officials have indicated that individuals acting in the name of the so called “Islamic State” (ISIS) may be responsible. As the attacks in Paris risk inflaming anti-Muslim sentiment in Canada, CJPME points out that Canadian Muslim groups, e.g. the Muslim Canadian Federation, have already publicly denounced the Paris attacks.   Continue reading

Montreal, Oct. 29, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting Professor Tariq Ramadan of Oxford University for a three city Canadian speaking tour visiting Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, on Nov. 21st, 22nd, and 23rd respectively.  A philosopher and writer, in addition to being an academic, Prof. Ramadan will deliver a political talk entitled, Wars, Refugees and Revolutions: Addressing the Fears and Fanaticism of our Age.  CJPME considers this a great opportunity for Canadians to hear Prof. Ramadan speak to the preoccupations of both the West and the Muslim world in the face of recent developments in the Middle East, Europe and Canada.   Continue reading

Montreal, October 20, 2015— With the imminent change in government given yesterday’s election results, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) reminds leaders that Canadians are looking for leadership in the Middle East.  Most pundits agree that the ousting of the Harper government in yesterday’s election is a clear sign that Harper’s one-sided approach to a number of issues – including its divisive approach to the Middle East – is no longer sanctioned.   Continue reading

Montreal, September 17, 2015 — Almost 3000 Canadians have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander.  Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) launched the petition about two weeks ago, based on the grassroots anger expressed by many in the wake of the Canadian government’s inaction on the Syrian refugee file.  While the petition acknowledged the tragic death of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi on a Turkish beach as the catalyst to the anger, the petition was a broader critique on the record of Alexander as Immigration and Citizen Minister.  Continue reading

Montreal, Sept. 1, 2015  — At a time of unprecedented turmoil in the Middle East, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce an ambitious seven-city Canadian lecture tour by veteran foreign correspondent and author Robert Fisk.  Dr. Fisk’s lectures will be entitled “‘Goodbye, Mr Sykes! Adieu, M. Picot!’ How the ISIS ‘caliphate’ frightens the Middle East – and us.”   Continue reading

Montreal, August 3, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on Canadian political parties to prioritize Middle East policy during the upcoming election campaign.  Especially over the past few years, the Middle East has become extremely dynamic and marred by conflict, and Canada’s interaction with the region will have repercussions for years to come. CJPME calls for Canadian politicians to take a step back, rethink our approach to the Middle East, and share their ideas with Canadians. Continue reading