Montreal, July 19, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to support today’s breakthrough advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and help bring an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. In a groundbreaking decision, the ICJ concluded that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) is illegal and must end as rapidly as possible. CJPME urges Canada to issue sanctions on Israeli leaders in response to its illegal practices, and to support any further efforts by the United Nations to force Israel’s compliance with international law. Continue reading

Montreal, July 12, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is condemning attempts by federal officials to intervene and overturn an agreement made in good faith between the University of Windsor (UW) and the student-led Palestinian solidarity encampment (“Palestine Liberation Zone”). Earlier this week, the UW peacefully brought an end to the encampment by committing to act on many of the students’ demands. Yesterday, Anthony Housefather, senior advisor to Prime Minister Trudeau on antisemitism, announced that he was working with Special Envoy Deborah Lyons to put pressure on the university, presumably to cancel the agreement. CJPME urges the University to reject any government interference and uphold its commitments on Palestinian human rights. Continue reading

Montreal, July 5, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemns the smear campaign against Birju Dattani, the incoming chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC). The campaign, which is led by pro-Israel advocacy organizations, seeks to cancel Dattani’s appointment over his past support for Palestinian human rights. CJPME asserts that challenging Israel’s racist practices against Palestinians is a legitimate form of political expression and entirely consistent with Dattani’s mandate to combat racism, and urges Justice Minister Virani to reject the calls to rescind the appointment.  Continue reading

Montreal, July 5, 2024 - CJPME has sent a letter to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc urging an end to collaboration with Israel's Ministry of National Security, led by far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.  Click here to download the full letter as a PDF. Continue reading

Montreal, June 26, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to put pressure on Israeli leadership to accept a ceasefire deal that would ensure a permanent end to hostilities in Gaza. The current proposal for a ceasefire as endorsed by US President Biden and the UN Security Council, despite being marketed as an “Israeli” plan, has not been accepted by Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, who still opposes an end to Israel’s genocidal war. Amid famine conditions in Gaza and threats of all-out war in Lebanon, CJPME urges Canada to impose sanctions on Israel’s leadership to force an end to hostilities. Continue reading

Montreal, June 20, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for including anti-Palestinian racism (APR) as part of its Combating Hate and Racism Student Learning Strategy. A report adopted yesterday by the TDSB in a 15-7 vote includes APR as an area of focus “in response to student and community voices,” and follows advocacy from Toronto Palestinian and Jewish families. This means that a working group will be formed to educate students on APR, alongside other forms of discrimination including Islamophobia and antisemitism. CJPME urges the TDSB to implement this policy as soon as possible to address the dangerous and rising wave of APR. Continue reading

Montreal, June 12, 2024 — A new report by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) warns that a Canadian public official tasked with countering racism has demonstrated a harmful and malicious pattern of spreading misinformation against supporters of Palestine, and is calling for her to be replaced. Titled “Defaming the Pro-Palestine Movement,” the report examines the public commentary of Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, and finds that her office has consistently spread false information to demonize Canadians protesting Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. CJPME’s report recommends that Lyons should be replaced in her position with someone able to combat antisemitism in an intersectional manner, without reproducing anti-Palestinian racism. Continue reading

Montreal, June 5, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is calling on Parliament to investigate Israeli foreign influence in Canada, following the alarming discovery that Israel has been covertly targeting Canadians with racist anti-Muslim messages. According to multiple media reports, the Israeli government has funded and orchestrated a secret foreign influence campaign targeting Canadians and Americans, using fake websites and social media accounts to demonize Canadian Palestinians and Muslims. CJPME further urges the government to act against Israel’s documented pattern of foreign interference by summoning and expelling Israel’s Ambassador to Canada. Continue reading

Montreal, June 4, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is outraged to learn that Canada exported $30,641,495.83 in military goods and technology to Israel in 2023, according to Canada’s newly released annual report on military exports. This is the highest year on record and represents a 43% increase in the value of military exports over the previous year. This is also during a period in which Israel stands accused of genocide against Palestinians by international legal experts. CJPME notes that the $30.6M is a separate figure from the $28.5M in export permits approved by Canada following October 7, 2023, many of which may not have been utilized yet. CJPME reiterates its call for Canada to reverse this dangerous trend, and immediately impose a two-way arms embargo on Israel using the Special Economic Measures Act. Continue reading

Montreal, May 23, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls for Canada to follow the lead of its European allies Spain, Norway and Ireland, and recognize an independent Palestinian state.  The three European countries noted that Palestinian independence cannot hinge on a negotiated peace agreement with Israel which has, for decades, undermined frameworks for Palestinian self-determination, while continuously violating Palestinian human rights.  CJPME points out that Canada’s traditional position of waiting for a “negotiated two-state solution” has long proven to be counterproductive, and has given Israel every incentive to dither undermine efforts for Palestinian liberation and dignity.  CJPME is highly critical of the Trudeau government’s refusal to join its European allies in this strategic step Continue reading