Serious debate from both-sides ought to be centered on how we can implement a two-way arms embargo and prevent further bloodshed by ending direct sales, closing these legal loopholes, and cutting ties with the war machine that is Israel’s defense technology.
Re: It can be healthy to debate Israel and Palestine but on the ground little will change
Michael Coren’s recent op-ed argues that Canadian debates over Israel-Palestine will change little on the ground.
He questions the term genocide by claiming Israel is not trying to murder every single Palestinian wherever they live.
Putting aside the credible findings of genocide from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, as well as global organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Doctor’s Without Borders, the real debate that needs to take place is not over whether a genocide has happened but Canada's complicity in the destruction of Gaza
Canadian companies such as General Dynamics export weapons, military components, and defense technologies to Israel both directly and via third-party channels through the United States.
Earlier this year, Canadians learned that the Federal government allowed the transfer of artillery ammunition to the U.S., portions of which were destined for Israel.
Canada is the sixth-largest buyer of Israeli arms exports and continues to finance the import of this military technology, making us the sixth-largest buyer of Israeli. These Israeli weapons are “battle-tested” against Palestinians in the West Bank and have been used during Israel’s war on Gaza.
Canada’s procurement of these weapons provides profits to the Israeli arms industry and gives politicians like Netanyahu moral cover for using those weapons against innocent Palestinians.
Despite the Federal government's announced suspension of export permits in 2024, reporting has shown that component parts from Canada have been sent via the U.S. - bypassing these suspensions entirely through legal loopholes.
Therefore Canada is complicit in severe violations of international law and we must recognize how our foreign policy actively fuels the violence in Israel-Palestine.
Serious debate from both-sides ought to be centered on how we can implement a two-way arms embargo and prevent further bloodshed by ending direct sales, closing these legal loopholes, and cutting ties with the war machine that is Israel’s defense technology.
Anthony Issa