In Gaza, Israel continues to bomb Palestinians. In Lebanon, it continues its shelling, burning of agricultural land and homes, and heavy drone activity. In Iran, the US and Israel are restarting their destructive campaign. Canada has done too little to uphold its commitments to international law amidst Israel’s violence.
Re: “As former diplomats to Israel and Palestine we know why Canada shouldn’t cut ties with Israel.”
The authors write that “singling out Israel as uniquely evil is shallow and irresponsible and distracts from real efforts to right wrongs and build peace.” But for more than two years, Israel has been carrying out what a UN commission, special rapporteurs, and the most prominent human rights groups have concluded amounts to genocide. Genocide is the gravest of the crimes against humanity and, unlike the authors suggest, should be treated as exceptional.
In Gaza, Israel continues to bomb Palestinians. In Lebanon, it continues its shelling, burning of agricultural land and homes, and heavy drone activity. In Iran, the US and Israel are restarting their destructive campaign. Canada has done too little to uphold its commitments to international law amidst Israel’s violence.
Peace is not advanced by shielding the apartheid state of Israel from accountability. Nor is it “shallow” or “irresponsible” to cut ties with a country whose Prime Minister and former Defence Minister are currently subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court. If Canada is genuinely serious about building peace, it must be willing to cut political and diplomatic ties rather than rewarding impunity with business as usual.
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East