Montreal, February 14, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) congratulates Green Party (GPC) leaders and members for the overwhelming ratification of a party resolution which calls for economic pressure and potentially sanctions on Israel for its failure to respect the human rights of Palestinians.  The resolution was ratified with over 90 percent support.  Although the resolution was passed at a GPC party convention in early December, a newly instituted on-line ratification process gave all party members the opportunity to vote on the resolution.  

CJPME Political Blog, December 21, 2016: The Green Party convention this past weekend offered a win for everyone. Sort of. The convention was held to clarify the Greens’ position vis-à-vis economic pressure on Israel for its human rights abuses.  Green leader Elizabeth May was so opposed to an August resolution condemning Israel’s human rights abuses that she had threatened to resign.  Influential party activists sought to preserve their August win while maintaining party unity.

Montreal, Dec. 5, 2016  — Over the weekend, at a federal Green Party Special General Meeting (SGM), Green members voted 84% in favour of economic sanctions on Israel because of its violations of Palestinian human rights.  “This is a landmark decision in Canadian politics,” declared Thomas Woodley, President of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.  “This vote reflects Canadians’ anger about the West’s failure to bring peace in Israel-Palestine, and a desire to see an end to Israel’s human rights abuses.”  While the new resolution does not specifically cite the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), its precepts align perfectly with those of BDS, including calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions.  

Montreal, November 30, 2016  — Earlier this week, an open letter signed by Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein and other notables encouraged Canada’s Federal Greens (GPC) to maintain economic pressure on Israel for its human rights abuses against Palestinians.  This letter demonstrates the global interest in the GPC’s recent resolutions on Israel-Palestine – resolutions that thus far distinguish the party from other Canadian parties.  Political writer and pundit Chomsky, and writer and environmental activist Klein were joined by dozens of other international and Canadian activists.  

CJPME Political Blog, Nov. 16, 2016: The naysayers on both sides of the issue have been proven wrong.  When the Green Party passed a motion in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on Israel in August, conservative voices felt Elizabeth May would be justified in stepping down as party leader.  Progressive voices, however, urged her to stay on, and not to disavow the BDS movement.  

Montreal, November 11, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the proposed Green Party of Canada (GPC) resolution on Israel-Palestine.  The proposed resolution was emailed to party members Wednesday, and was a result of collaborative work between the GPC shadow cabinet and other party human rights activists.  “We are pleased to see a fair-minded and inclusive resolution which addresses the concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians, and speaks to the long-standing human rights issues in the region,” declared Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.

CJPME Political Blog, Sept. 16, 2016

Normally, political party conventions end with leaders trumpeting their satisfaction with their party’s progress and accomplishments. Not so last month with Canada’s federal Greens.

Barely able to wait for the doors to close on August’s 3-day convention, Green leader Elizabeth May publicly and harshly criticized a key outcome of the convention.  At issue was the passage of a resolution calling for the party to adopt the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.  BDS is a tactic to pressure Israel to respect the human rights of Palestinians.

 “As leader, I am disappointed that the membership has adopted a policy in favour of a movement that I believe to be polarizing, ineffective and unhelpful,” May announced on the evening the convention closed. 

CJPME Political Blog, October, 5th 2016

Elizabeth May should apologize to Green Party members.  May’s behaviour since the Green Party convention a few weeks ago has not only left the public deeply confused, but also humiliated party members. 

Montreal, August 8, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) enthusiastically applauds the Green Party’s decision to support the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.  “By voting overwhelmingly in support of this BDS resolution, Green Party members demonstrate their deep concern for the human rights of indigenous Palestinians,” asserted Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME.  BDS is a movement applying economic pressure on Israel until it respects the human rights of Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.