This position paper displays CJPME’s recommendations concerning Canada’s policy on Israel’s illegal colonies. CJPME incites Canada to denounce Israel’s activity and its colony growth and call for a settlement freeze. 

CJPME Factsheet 76, published September, 2012: This factsheet looks at the Israel’s colonies, often referred to as “settlements,” in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Colonies have long been one of the major obstacles to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, since successive Israeli governments have permitted the Jewish Israeli colonists to expropriate land and to create “facts on the ground” that would make the creation of a Palestinian state increasingly difficult.

CJPME Factsheet 78, published September, 2012: This factsheet looks at the status and significance of East Jerusalem. After the June 1967 war, Israel announced its intention to annex the 6.5 square kilometers of East Jerusalem, which was to be the capital of a future Palestinian state. To this day, the international community refuses to recognize Israel’s policy of annexation and colonization in East Jerusalem, which are not only illegal under international law, but also detrimental to negotiations.

CJPME Factsheet 157, published August, 2012: This factsheet discusses the way in which Israeli Jewish-only colonies (a.k.a. “settlements”) impede progress toward peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  The factsheet then outlines why and how “settlement” industries can be boycotted in Canada.

CJPME Factsheet 158, published August, 2012: This factsheet looks at the growing international opposition to Israeli colonies (a.k.a. “settlements”), and how such opposition manifests itself in Western society.  This factsheet puts a focus on Western perceptions, and Canadian and US popular opposition to Israeli colonies.

CJPME Factsheet 154, published April, 2012: Moroccan oil is an Israeli beauty products company that has listed products as “Made in Israel” but refuses to disclose the location of its production facilities.  This factsheet lays out the reasons that CJPME recommends a boycott of Moroccan Oil.

This paper looks at the impacts of Israeli colony growth and highlights the importance for the Canadian’s government to actively oppose this colonial expansion and to pressure Israel to respect international law. 

CJPME Factsheet 89, published July, 2010: This factsheet looks at the water situation in Israel and Palestine. Today, Israeli citizens have unlimited running water year-round while hundreds of thousands of Palestinians suffer from water shortages through the hottest months of summer. Given these shortages drastically affect Palestinians’ health and economic well-being, this factsheet looks at Israeli water policies and practices vis-à-vis Palestinians, the difference in Israeli-Palestinian water consumption, the impact of Israel’s assault on Gaza (2008-2009) had in water infrastructure and sanitation services, and whether water Israeli practices and policies violate international law.

This position paper looks at Canadian policy on Israel’s colonies and explains why Canada should pass the bill C-326 to amend the CIFTA Implementation Act. Indeed, even if according to International Law, Israel’s colonies are illegal, Canada still have a free trade agreement with Israel and still applies preferential treatment to goods originating from the colonies. Canada should follow the European Union’s example and no longer applies such treatment.