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 Israeli assault on Gaza in November 2012 and in the summer of 2014. 

Montreal, August 27, 2014 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. The ceasefire was slated to begin yesterday. It was brokered by Egypt and Qatar. According to Al Jazeera news network, the deal includes an immediate easing of Israel's blockage of crossings into Gaza. The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will also be opened. CBC reports that under the deal, aid and reconstruction materials will be allowed in, and Palestinians will be allowed to fish up to six nautical miles offshore, up from three. Discussions on the creation of a seaport and airport will take place in a month, when indirect talks between Israel and Palestinians will resume.

Montreal, July 25, 2014  — Yesterday, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) issued a document (http://cjpme.nationbuilder.com/israels_arguments) called How to respond to Israel’s pet arguments. CJPME hopes to help concerned Canadians better understand the context of the Israeli assault on Gaza and respond to common arguments used by proponents of Israel to prolong the assault. CJPME hopes that individuals in the public sphere will consider the information provided and regard such arguments more critically in the future.

Montreal, July 24, 2014 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) believes that the leaders of Canada’s major political parties have betrayed Canadian values in their response to the violence between Israel and Gaza. “The statements by political leaders of recent weeks demonstrate no nuance of understanding of the broader situation between Israel, Gaza and the Palestinians,” asserts CJPME President Thomas Woodley. “In its own way, each political party has declared unquestioning support for Israel, and unexamined condemnation of the Palestinians. This is not principled, nor does it respect the precepts of international law in the broader context.”

Montreal, July 18, 2014 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) strongly condemns the land invasion of Gaza by Israel troops, initiated yesterday, and urges both Hamas and Israel to accept a ceasefire. CJPME notes that the bogus “ceasefire” earlier this week was announced by Egypt and Israel without consultation with Hamas. As such, it was invalid and non-binding. Not surprisingly, hostilities resumed within hours.

Starting in July, 2014, for many weeks, Israel bombarded sites in Gaza, resulting in large-scale destruction and around 1500 Palestinian deaths, including many civilians.  Hamas also launched hundreds of rockets into Israel, causing very few casualties, and almost no destruction.  The actions of both parties were in violation of international law.  During the duration of hostilities, CJPME supported the UN call for a ceasefire, and called on MPs of all political stripes to protest Israel’s assault on Gaza, and to push for a ceasefire and resumption of peace talks.

Montreal, July 14, 2014 - Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) supports the UN call for a ceasefire, and shares its concerns about the high civilian casualties among Palestinians. According to international reports, 172 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military. The UN estimates that 77 percent of the victims were civilians. Meanwhile, no Israelis have been killed.

Montreal, July 8, 2014 - Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CPME) calls on MPs of all stripes to press Israel to end its disproportionate assault on Gaza. “Rocket-fire from Gaza is seldom lethal, and thus no justification for repeated air strikes, let alone the ground invasion that Israel is reportedly preparing,” says CJPME President Thomas Woodley. CJPME reminds MPs that the number of Palestinian non-combatants killed by the Israeli military over the last 10 years far outstrips the number of Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians in the same period: 2041 versus 186. Thus, attempts by the Israeli government to portray itself as a victim with no choice but to raze Gaza, as it did in 2009, are patently groundless.