Montreal, December 1, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) denounces the passage of an Ontario motion condemning BDS.  The BDS movement – standing for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – seeks to non-violently pressure the Israeli government to fulfill its human rights obligations under international law.  “This motion will surely put a chill on free speech in Ontario vis-à-vis Israel’s human rights abuses,” asserted Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.  “It is a sad day when Ontario seeks to censure individuals for their political views.”

Montreal, May 19, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) denounces Ontario Bill 202 as an affront to free speech in Ontario.  CJPME points out that Bill 202 both attacks Canadians’ right to express themselves through boycott action, and smears an entire movement of human rights activists by accusing them of anti-Semitism.  Bill 202, the so-called “Standing Up Against Anti-Semitism in Ontario Act,” would prevent entities from entering into contract with provincial institutions if these entities support the “BDS” human rights movement based in Israel-Palestine.  BDS stands for “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” and is a movement to put economic pressure on Israel so that it respects the human rights of Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.  

Montreal, May 3, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) joined with other important community organizations signing an open letter applauding the success of York University President Mamdouh Shoukri at creating an inclusive and respectful environment for York students.  The organizations addressed the letter to York U. President Shoukri, and thanked him for the meaningful and effective ways he had dealt with various controversies at York U.      

Many people in Ontario are alarmed to learn that provincial premier Kathleen Wynne has accepted an invitation to be honoured by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) on June 22.  While Wynne is indeed worthy of honour for a number of her accomplishments, CIJA’s objectives stand opposed to many things Wynne has worked for in her political career.  Wynne has stood for diversity and fairness, and for respect of Indigenous rights, yet CIJA works to deny the indigenous Palestinian people their human rights and civil rights in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.