Montreal, September 7, 2022 — Canada’s career foreign affairs officials admit that Canada’s staunchly pro-Israel voting record at the United Nations contradicts its own values and interests and harms its international reputation, according to documents released under the Access to Information Act and obtained by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). The released documents cover the period leading up to Canada’s 2019 decision to resume its support for Palestinian self-determination at the UN, and reveal how Canadian officials critically view Canada’s voting record. CJPME urges the Canadian government to use the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to reorient its approach, and to start supporting resolutions which aim to uphold Palestinian human rights.

Montreal, March 8, 2022  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) condemns the University of Toronto for threatening to withhold funding from the University of Toronto Graduate Students' Union (UTGSU) over its support for BDS. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement to pressure Israel with boycotts, divestment, and sanctions until Israel complies with international law. CJPME is aware that the university administration has sent a letter to the UTGSU promising to withhold a percentage of its membership fees, in retaliation over the union’s continued funding of their BDS Caucus.

Montreal, December 16, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomes Canada’s vote today in support of Palestinian self-determination at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), but expresses its strong disapproval over the continuation of Canada’s overall anti-Palestine voting pattern. Of the ten resolutions in support of Palestinian rights to be adopted by the UNGA’s plenary this year, Canada has only voted in support of one of them. The resolution on Palestinian self-determination was adopted late this afternoon with a vote of 168-5, with 10 abstentions.

Montreal, November 9, 2021  — Legislators from Europe and North America came together recently to discuss the alarming recent threats to Palestinian civil society by the Israeli government, as well as initiatives that governments can take to ensure that public funding is not contributing to Israeli violations of human rights.

Montreal, October 8, 2021  — Below is a letter from CJPME to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). The letter raises concerns over how supporters of Palestinian rights have been mistreated by the TDSB, while pro-Israel lobby groups have been given an opportunity to shape curriculum. Click here to download a PDF of the letter.

Montreal, September 30, 2021 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is extremely concerned about a pattern of anti-Palestinian racism in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) after a series of instances in which the board has reprimanded or disavowed voices who spoke about Palestinian human rights. Most recently, the board apologized for causing “harm” after journalist and activist Desmond Cole spoke about Palestinian rights during an event about anti-Black racism. CJPME is also deeply troubled that TDSB intends to hire a pro-Israel lobby group - with a history of trying to silence academic critics of Israel - to design classroom resources on “anti-Palestinian and anti-Israel sentiments.”

Montreal, July 6, 2021  — As Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau’s trip to the Middle East comes to a close, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is calling the initiative a failure due to the Minister’s refusal to hold Israeli officials accountable for egregious human rights violations. “Canadians were shocked to see Minister Garneau take a ‘business-as-usual’ approach to a government led by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a far-right racist and war criminal who has boasted about killing Arabs and supports perpetual apartheid,” Michael Bueckert, Vice President of CJPME. “Any Canadians looking for indications that their government was prepared to take action to protect the rights of Palestinians will be deeply disappointed” added Bueckert.

Montreal, June 18, 2021 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) congratulates the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) for resolving to campaign for Palestinian human rights and endorsing the use of sanctions and divestment against Israel. An emergency motion adopted by the CLC’s Canadian Council commits to support a ban on settlement goods, promoting divestment from Israeli military and security companies, and calling on Canada halt arms sales to Israel, among other measures. The CLC represents more than three million workers in Canada.

June 3, 2021 - Below is a statement from CJPME in support of Javier Davila, a Toronto anti-oppression educator who is being disciplined and investigated for sharing information on Palestine.

Download a PDF version of the statement here.

May 18, 2021 - Below is CJPME's statement on anti-Palestinian violence in Toronto. A false story was distributed by pro-Israel groups, the press, and condemned by journalists, depicting a peaceful Palestinian protest as hateful, while portraying a hate group member as a victim. CJPME calls on officials to apologize to the pro-Palestinian community for their false and demeaning statements. 

Download a PDF version of the statement here.