Montreal, May 29, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls for a review and revamp of Canada-Israel trade ties.  Today, Israel’s minister of trade was feted at the Royal York hotel in Toronto, and activists from several organizations were present to protest trade cooperation with Israel.  Protesters attendant at the meeting stood up, one after the other, to disrupt the Israeli trade minister’s speech.  Their objections raised several issues, but heavily questioned how Canada could endorse deeper ties with Israel given Israel’s brutal and illegal crackdown on Palestinian protesters in Gaza just two weeks ago which also injured a Canadian doctor.  Continue reading

May 22, 2018 — At least 16,000 Canadians have emailed support for Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments last Wednesday condemning Israel’s use of live ammunition on Palestinian protesters.  These thousands of emails were sent to Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, and other Parliamentary leaders and critics via a platform set up by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME.)  The local MPs of each person who used the platform were also copied on the emails sent.  This number does not include the many individuals who expressed support via other means.     Continue reading

May 17, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) supports Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement on Gaza. Yesterday, PM Trudeau expressed grave concern with the outbreak of violence against unarmed Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and called for an “immediate independent investigation to thoroughly examine facts on the ground – any incitement, violence and the use of excessive force.” CJPME calls on the government to keep its promise to Canadians in investigating Israel’s actions in Gaza.   Continue reading

Montreal, May 15, 2018 — This week, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba. The Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to the dispossession and loss suffered by the Palestinians as a result of the UN Partition Plan of 1947.  Over a period of several months, at least 700,000 Palestinians became refugees, and hundreds of thousands more were displaced from their homes and livelihoods by Jewish militias. The Nakba is still very much part of the living memory of Palestinians, who still haven’t been allowed to establish their own state, and who face ongoing persecution from the Israeli government. Continue reading

Montreal, May 15, 2018 —Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemns Israel’s shooting of London, ON based doctor Tarek Loubani, shot while attending the wounded in Gaza.  Despite being clearly identified as a first responder, Loubani sustained a moderate injury to his left leg, and a minor injury to his right leg.  A friend and colleague of Loubani’s, paramedic Musa Abuhassanin was killed, along with at least 54 other Palestinians in Gaza yesterday.    Continue reading

April 20, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the statements delivered Thursday by three different Canadian MPs vis-à-vis Palestinian human rights. Thursday morning, Green Party leader Elizabeth May, NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, and former Bloc Québécois leader Mario Beaulieu convened a press conference on Parliament Hill, highlighting the important takeaways from a Parliamentary fact-finding trip they participated in to Palestine. Continue reading

Montreal, April 10, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemns the Canadian government’s silence on the Israeli massacres unfolding in Gaza. Since March 30th, Palestinians have held a series of peaceful demonstrations at Gaza’s border with Israel, calling for the right to return to their homeland. The Israeli military has reacted by unlawfully targeting Palestinian civilians.  Over a week into the demonstrations, 27 Palestinians have been killed, and over a thousand injured by Israeli sharpshooters. Continue reading

March 29, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the upcoming Parliamentary fact-finding trip to Palestine, and the participation of almost two dozen MPs. The participating MPs will be departing for Palestine on March 30, and most will remain for a week of scheduled activities. CJPME is optimistic that the trip will open be illuminating for the politicians involved, and that they will gain a greater appreciation of the struggles and suffering of the Palestinian people living under Israeli military occupation. Continue reading

March 22, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the government to move promptly on the recommendations from the M-103 report put forth last month by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.  The government announced Tuesday that it will be launching pan-Canadian consultations on racism as a response to the Committee’s report.  Nevertheless, CJPME would prefer to see a more prompt and concrete response to the 30 recommendations of the Committee and is concerned that drawn out consultations will simply delay much-needed action by the government. Continue reading

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