This position paper contains recommendations regarding Canada’s part in the Israel-Palestinian Situation. These recommendations address the humanitarian help that should be provided as well as the actions that the Parliamentarians should take.

CJPME is pleased to publish the next of a 15 part election series analyzing the positions of Canada’s political parties. CJPME hopes that, by revealing what parties have said and done on key Middle East issues, Canadians will be better informed voters in the upcoming elections. Our next analysis studies each party’s position on the Palestinian accession to UN agencies, namely the International Criminal Court and UNESCO.

Montreal, July 8, 2015 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) joins other Canadian and international organizations in commemorating the one-year anniversary of Israel’s latest military assault on the Gaza Strip between 8 July and 26 August 2014.

CJPME Factsheet 141, published November, 2011: Palestine’s admittance into UNESCO was a significant event, with parties both supportive and standing in opposition.  This factsheets lays out the reasons why Palestine sought membership in UNESCO, as well as how the international community, including Canada, responded.

This position paper contains recommendations regarding the Palestinians’ application for full membership in the UN and its agencies and how should Canada react to it.   

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.