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

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

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

Montreal, August 28, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce a three-city tour and talk with Noura Erakat, Palestinian-American author and law professor, centered around her new book “Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine.” The talk will be presented in three Canadian cities: Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto, September 11, 12 and 13. Continue reading

Montreal, August 27, 2019 — In advance of federal elections, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges Canada’s federal parties to take a position against Quebec’s law 21.  Entitled “An act respecting the laicity of the state,” the law bars public servants in positions of authority, including judges, police officers, and teachers from wearing religious symbols while on the job.  A secular organization, CJPME opposes the bill as an infringement on the rights of Canadians of Middle East origin, especially Muslim-Canadians.  The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevents the government from passing laws which prevent or inhibit Canadians from practicing their religion. Continue reading

Montreal, August 22, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Canadian government to respect the July 29 Federal Court decision in David Kattenburg vs. Attorney General of Canadadetermining that labelling Israeli “settlement” wines as “Products of Israel” is both inaccurate and misleading.  In respect of this ruling, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) must henceforth insist that, to be sold in Canada, such wines conform to this decision.  To demonstrate respect for international law, CJPME urges the Canadian government to accept – and not to appeal – the July 29 Federal Court ruling. Continue reading

Montreal, August 13, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Canadian government to maintain its support for the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). CJPME urges this support in spite of recent calls from pro-Israel organizations B’nai Brith and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) to end Canadian support for UNRWA, in light of recent allegations of mismanagement.  Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has also echoed the call to end Canadian funding to UNRWA. Continue reading

Montreal, July 29, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the Federal Court of Canada’s ruling against “Product of Israel” labels on wines produced in Israeli colonies (aka “settlements”). This morning, the Federal Court rejected this practice, calling the mislabelling “false, misleading and deceptive.” CJPME agrees with the Federal Court's principled decision on this matter and renews its call for the Canadian government to distinguish between products originating from Israel and Israeli colonies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Continue reading

Montreal, July 23, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is deeply concerned by Israel’s demolition of Palestinian housing units in East Jerusalem. Yesterday, Israeli Occupation Forces entered the Palestinian East Jerusalem village of Sur Bahir in the middle of the night, forcibly displacing Palestinian families to demolish nearly a hundred of their homes. CJPME calls on the Canadian government to break its silence on Israeli human rights violations and condemn Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.  Continue reading

Montreal, July 23, 2019 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemns the Lebanese government’s new work permit laws which discriminate against Syrian and Palestinian refugees working in the country. CJPME urges the Lebanese government to put an end to its xenophobic discourse and drop the idea of insisting that Palestinian and Syrian refugees obtain work permits. Continue reading