Montreal, August 15, 2023 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is alarmed to learn that the Canadian government has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to drop an advisory opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation and annexation. Last December, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted 87-26 to request that the ICJ render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation” of Palestinian territory, with Canada voting in the minority against the resolution. In a letter dated July 14, 2023, which was obtained by CJPME, Canada has now formally asked the ICJ to “decline the request” from the UNGA.

Montreal, March 18, 2023 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is appalled by the decision of Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly to meet with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen this week. This was the first meeting between Minister Joly and Israel’s far-right government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, which has been in power since the end of 2022. CJPME identifies Cohen as a far-right extremist and annexationist, who has said that Palestinian citizens of Israel can “move to Gaza on a one-way ticket.” According to the readout of the meeting, Minister Joly expressed concerns about violence against Israelis but did not confront Israel on its escalation of violence and oppression against Palestinians. CJPME reiterates its call for Canada to send a strong message in support of human rights and international law by imposing a diplomatic boycott on Israel’s far-right regime.

Montreal, January 30, 2023 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to strongly condemn Israel’s plans for collective punishment against Palestinians, following a week of heightened violence sparked by Israeli aggression. Israel’s far-right government is preparing to punitively target the family members of a Palestinian attacker who killed 7 Israelis in an East Jerusalem settlement, which took place one day after a deadly Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp which killed at least 10 Palestinians. CJPME warns that Israel’s plan for collective punishment is prohibited under international law, and that such oppressive measures will only inflame further violence.

Montreal, November 15, 2022 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is angered by Canada’s opposition to a draft United Nations motion which would request a legal opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation. Last Friday, the UN’s Fourth Committee voted 98-17 to request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of the Palestinian territory” occupied since 1967, with Canada voting in the minority against the resolution. CJPME considers Israel’s de facto “permanent occupation” over Palestinians to be inhumane and brutal, and urges Canada to support this necessary resolution when it comes to a final vote in the UNGA plenary before the end of the year.

Montreal, August 4, 2022 - Below is a letter to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino urging him to reject a recommendation in the Standing Committee report on "Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism" which seems to target legitimate human rights work and Palestine activism. Click here to download PDF version of the letter.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 24, 2022: CJPME is pleased that the government has decided not to endorse the report's Recommendation 20. Following the publication of the above letter, CJPME and Independent Jewish Voices Canada met with Parliamentary Secretary Pam Damoff to discuss our concerns. CJPME later received a letter from Public Safety which noted our concerns over the "potential impacts of this recommendation on legitimate criticism of the State of Israel," and said that "the considerations you raised regarding the possible effects of fully accepting this recommendation were taken into account." Along those lines, the government's response to the report only "takes note" of  Recommendation 20, declining to express agreement with it or take further action.

Montreal, June 29, 2022- Below is a letter to Bob Rae in response to his article published in the Globe and Mail, “Canada has a choice to make in how it responds to a global refugee crisis." The article spoke on Canada’s responsibilities with the global refugee crisis, however, reflected serious biases against the Palestinian refugees. Click here to download the PDF version. 

Montreal, June 15, 2022 - Below is a letter from CJPME to Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Mélanie Joly addressing the recent report by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded that Israel intends to deepen its control over occupied Palestinian territory. Click here to download a PDF of the letter.

Montreal, May 31, 2022  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is alarmed to learn that Canada’s military exports to Israel increased by 33% in 2021, amid Israel’s 11-day bombing campaign against the occupied Gaza Strip. According to Canada’s newly released annual report on military exports, Canada exported $26,092,288 in military goods to Israel in 2021; up from $19,583,838* in 2020 and approaching the historical high-water mark of $26,893,255* in 1987. This puts Israel in 10th place among Canada’s top twelve non-U.S. destinations for military exports. CJPME calls on Canada to put an immediate halt to this worrying trend by immediately suspending all military trade with Israel.

Montreal, May 27, 2022 - Below is a letter from CJPME to Minister of Health Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos addressing Canada's double standard at the World Health Assembly. "Canada should condemn Israeli attacks on health care, just as it would condemn the same behaviour by any other state." Click here to download a PDF of the letter.

Montreal, March 23, 2022  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging Canada to act on the recommendations of an important new United Nations report which concludes that Israel is practicing apartheid in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The report was authored by Michael Lynk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, and will be introduced to the Human Rights Council on Thursday March 24. It conducts a legal analysis of Israel’s rule over the occupied territory, and concludes that it “satisfies the prevailing evidentiary standard for the existence of apartheid.”