This position paper discusses several points regarding how the Canadian government should handle the Palestinian refugees.

The UNRWA is the caretaker human development and relief agency for Palestinian refugees. It provides educational programs, relief and social services, health programs, microenterprise and microfinance programs, and emergency relief. In January, 2010, the Canadian government announced it would curtail funding to UNRWA and redirect aid to projects in the Palestinian Authority (PA). This position paper explains why Canada’s decision will be counterproductive if it seeks to address the root causes of extremism and promote peace and stability between Israel and Palestine and provides recommendations. 

The following are recommendations in terms of dealing with the Israeli-imposed humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and in terms of stimulating Palestinian unity between the West Bank and Gaza. 

The Winter and Spring months of 2007 have been fraught with diplomatic activity in the Middle East, but vacant of much hope. CJPME proposes the following positions to enable Canada to be positively present in the Middle East.

This position paper recalls the importance for Canada to provide humanitarian help to the Palestinian population, in spite of the Palestinian people’s election choices. Also, this paper denounces the fact that Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) are not treated the same way, proof of the existence of a double-standard.