June 6, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is disappointed by the Conservatives’ attempt to divide and mislead with today’s opposition motion to condemn Hamas.  The motion makes a number of assertions about the current Gaza situation and Hamas which don’t stand up to scrutiny.  The statement also ignores the broader context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, one where Israel is the belligerent occupier of Palestinian territory.  CJPME believes the motion is intended to score cheap political points in Canada on the backs of dispossessed and oppressed Palestinians. 

CJPME Factsheet 202, published May 16, 2017: This factsheet addresses the recent criticism on Canada's funding of UNRWA. Most importantly, it discusses whether or not UNRWA has ties to Hamas, whether or not UNRWA allows Hamas to use its schools as weapons caches, and whether or not UNRWA incites hate against Israelis. Finally, CJPME suggests a way Canada should respond if ties to Hamas were found. 

This position paper seeks to better inform Canadian policy on four of the most well-known extremist groups in the Middle East: ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.  Through numerous examples, CJPME distinguishes the various groups from one another, and demonstrates how widely different approaches to each group must be developed.  The position paper attributes the rise of such groups to a number of destabilizing regional factors, and encourages Canada and its partners to address these underlying issues.   

CJPME Factsheet 186, published September, 2014: This factsheet provides an overview of Hamas: its emergence, its goals, and the source for its popular support.  It also discusses how Hamas operates within Palestinian society, and the services it provides. 

Following the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in the summer of 2014, CJPME issued a series of recommendations captured in this position paper.  In addition to calling for an impartial inquiry into events of the summer, the position paper also calls Canada to address the many long-terms issues inflaming the Israel-Palestine relationship, particularly those impacting Gaza.

CJPME Factsheet 131, published August, 2011: This factsheet provides a historical overview of the emergence of Fatah and Hamas, their political and ideological differences, and their struggle for power until the 2011 Unity Agreement. Palestinian political reconciliation between Fatah, Hamas and 11 other Palestinian factions strengthen their efforts to garner international support, recognition and ultimately, statehood.

CJPME Factsheet 47, published January 2009: This factsheet provides an overview of Hamas’ positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It examines the1988 Hamas Charter and questions whether or not Hamas wants peace before explaining why Israel refuses to negociate with Hamas.

This paper examines the decisions that should be taken by the Canadian government regarding the Gaza war.

This position paper presents CJPME’s various recommendations regarding Canada’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Recommendations as demanding to stop all Israeli collective punishment or distancing itself from the Bush Administration approach to Hamas.