CJPME Factsheet 242, created May 2024: This factsheet covers Aroma Espresso Bar, an Israeli coffee chain, in Israel's illegal settlements, particularly its operation of a café in the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank and its sourcing of goods from farms in illegal settlements. It highlights the ethical and legal implications of operating in occupied territories and benefiting from the exploitation of Palestinian and Syrian resources. Additionally, it discusses discriminatory practices within the company and its material support for the Israeli military, calling for a boycott until specific actions are taken to end complicity in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

CJPME Factsheet 241, created April 2024: This factsheet examines the reasons behind the boycott of Starbucks by certain pro-Palestine activists, particularly in light of allegations of mistreatment of Starbucks Workers United following a solidarity tweet with Palestine. It delves into Starbucks' claimed neutrality, its legal actions against the union, and indirect economic ties to Israel through major shareholders, sparking debates about its complicity in the Israel-Palestine conflict and prompting considerations for conscientious consumers.

CJPME Factsheet 240, created April 2024: This factsheet offers insights into The Aldo Group, a retail company specializing in footwear and accessories, founded in Montreal in 1972 by Aldo Bensadoun. It delves into reasons for boycotting Aldo due to its operation of stores in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, violating international law and supporting the occupation of Palestinian land. The document advocates for a boycott until Aldo ceases its presence in these settlements, aligning with Palestinian civil society's call to end complicity in oppression.

CJPME Factsheet 239, created April 2024: This factsheet provides an overview of Sabra, a US-based company known for its Middle Eastern-style food products like Hummus, jointly owned by PepsiCo and the Israeli multinational food corporation, Strauss Group. It delves into the reasons behind the call to boycott Sabra due to the Strauss Group's financial support for the Israeli military, particularly the Golani and Givati Brigades, which have been implicated in human rights violations against Palestinians. The document highlights instances of activism and campaigns, particularly in Canadian universities, urging the cessation of support for Sabra until it severs ties with the Strauss Group and disengages from complicity in Israel's crimes against Palestinians.

CJPME Factsheet 238, created December 2023: This revised and updated factsheet explains why the Palestine solidarity movement in Canada has been calling for boycott of Indigo Books & Music Inc., since 2006. It outlines how the founder and CEO of Indigo Heather Reisman co-founded the HESEG Foundation for Lone Soldiers, which encourages foreigners to join the Israeli army and continue their studies in Israel. The factsheet also explores additional ties between HESEG and the Israeli military.

In this episode, Michael is joined by Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in the UK. They discuss the anti-boycott bill currently being pushed by the British conservative government, how it poses a threat to freedom of speech and expression, and how civil society is fighting back to defend the ‘right to boycott.’

Montreal, July 6, 2023 - CJPME has sent a letter to the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) to congratulate them for adopting a principled resolution in support of Palestinian human rights. Read the letter text below, or click here to download a PDF.

Montreal, June 8, 2023 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) congratulates the Manitoba branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Manitoba) for endorsing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement to put economic pressure on Israel until it complies with international law. A resolution unanimously adopted by delegates at the CUPE Manitoba Convention on May 17-19 resolved to “support the [BDS] movement to end Israeli Apartheid and the oppression of Palestinians.” CUPE Manitoba represents approximately 37,000 workers in Manitoba.

February 22, 2016: Parliament votes to condemn Canadians who boycott Israel 

“We join our voices together to express our deep concern about the Opposition motion that condemns the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. We are strongly committed to democratic rights and freedoms for all Canadians […] Any attempt to criminalize, condemn, intimidate or silence peaceful and nonviolent actions of individuals and groups that support or sympathize with the BDS movement, should be rejected.” – Joint statement from Canadian civil society groups 

On this day in 2016, Canada’s parliament unfairly targeted Canadians who stand up for Palestinian rights by voting (229-51) to condemn the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and its supporters. BDS is a non-violent movement launched by Palestinian civil society organizations in 2005 to put pressure on the Israeli government to end its human rights violations. Canadian civil society organizations including the United Church of Canada, the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) and the Canadian Labour Congress strongly criticized the motion, saying that “any attempt to criminalize, condemn, intimidate or silence peaceful and nonviolent actions of individuals and groups that support or sympathize with the BDS movement, should be rejected.”

The heavy-handed motion was introduced by the Opposition Conservative Party and called for the House of Commons to reject the BDS movement for allegedly promoting the “demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel.” The motion also called for the Canadian government to “condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both here at home and abroad.” The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) warned that the government’s “vague” condemnation “chills public discussion both of the BDS movement and the Israeli State more broadly.”

In total, 229 Members of Parliament voted in favour of condemning the BDS movement while only 51 opposed it. While the Conservatives and most Liberals voted for the motion, MPs from the New Democrats (NDP) and Bloc Quebecois (BQ) voted against it. While few MPs defended BDS in itself, many cited the importance of free expression and the right to boycott. NDP MP Charlie Angus argued that whether MPs agree with BDS or not, “it is the role of parliamentarians to stand up for individual rights,” adding that he is “shocked” that members would vote to “condemn individuals for their right to dissent.”

Many observers noted that even though the motion did not outlaw or criminalize the BDS movement, it had the potential to create a “chilling effect” for Canadian groups seeking to speak out against the violations of Palestinian human rights under Israeli oppression, constituting an infringement of their freedom of speech. Yet, on the very same day of the vote, McGill University’s Student Society voted to adopt BDS, demonstrating that support for the BDS movement continues to grow in Canada and beyond. Over the years, organizations representing millions of Canadians have endorsed the BDS movement, including CUPE-Ontario, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Canadian Federation of Students, Mennonite Church Canada, Black Lives Matter, Idle No More, and dozens of labour and student unions.

Read More:

House of Commons Canada Motion and Vote No. 14 

Canada ‘condemns’ Israel boycott – Middle East Eye

Canada jumps on the anti-BDS bandwagon – Al Jazeera

Parliament votes to reject Israel boycott campaign – The Globe and Mail

Canadian groups call on the government to uphold the right to dissent – International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group

On the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the narrowing of acceptable speech – British Columbia Civil Liberties Association

CJPME resources: 

Who supports BDS in Canada? – CJPME BDS Hub

BDS: Informing the Parliamentary debate – CJPME Factsheet

CJPME President waits to be condemned by Trudeau government – CJPME Press Release

BDS group targeted with threats, hate after parliamentary motion – CJPME Press Release

CJPME is a member of the BDS-Quebec coalition, which released the following press release about Quebec's pension fund, la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), which has invested in the Israeli company Policity Ltd.