Re: “Canada must rethink its friendship with Israel”

"Passing the buck and waiting for other nations to do something about Israel’s behaviour rather than standing up for what is right, as we have done with our multi-faceted support for Ukraine, only gives the Israeli government the message that they can continue to do as they please without fear of any serious consequences."


July 28, 2023

Juneau makes some excellent points regarding the Israeli government’s shift to the far right and how Canada should “rethink” its relationship with Israel. Canada has systematically voted with Israel at the UN, despite its daily abuses of Palestinian human rights and its ongoing illegal activities such as settlement building on occupied land.

Canada should be demonstrating to Israel, through actions and not just feeble words, that its bad behaviour will not go unnoticed. Juneau’s recommendations don’t go far enough. Canada must officially refuse to deal with Israel’s current far-right government, sanction Israel for continuing to expand illegal settlements and cut ties with businesses and banks that fund such enterprises. Furthermore, our government should be far more vocal in its condemnation of Israeli military and settler assaults on Palestinians and call on its close “friend” to immediately reverse its murderous policies instead of just making empty statements of “concern.”

Passing the buck and waiting for other nations to do something about Israel’s behaviour rather than standing up for what is right, as we have done with our multi-faceted support for Ukraine, only gives the Israeli government the message that they can continue to do as they please without fear of any serious consequences.

Mohamed Khalaf

Director of Special Operations

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)

Address: 580 Sainte-Croix, Suite 060, Montreal, QC H4l 3X5

T: 438-380-5410

C: 438-530-6567