Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) Condemns Memorandum of Understanding Between Israel and Canada

Canada and Israel signed a series of cooperation agreements recently, one of which included an unprecedented commitment to work jointly to counter the continued growth of BDS.

On January 22, Canadian public safety minister Steven Blaney gave a speech at a meeting on anti-semitism at the United Nations General Assembly, convened in the wake of the Paris criminal attacks, that smeared the BDS movement as “anti-semitic.”

Rafeef Ziadah, a secretariat member of the the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the broad coalition of Palestinian civil society organisations that leads the BDS movement, said:

“Rather than seeking to hold Israel to account for its war crimes during the recent military assault on Gaza and its intensified colonization of the occupied West Bank, particularly in Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, the Canadian government is further deepening its collaboration with Israel’s occupation and launching a shameful, propagandistic attack on free speech in the process.”

“The Canadian government’s continued unconditional support for Israel’s colonial policies and its smear campaign against BDS highlight the deeply ideological and reactionary character of this government. Canada is sending Israel the message that it can act with total impunity in violating human rights and international law.”

“Sadly, while claiming to defend free speech the current Canadian government is among the most repressive in the west; it has gone farther than most in suppressing free speech and infringing the rights of its own civil society, including trade unions, community and faith groups, to participate in human rights campaigning, as in boycotts against Israel’s injustices.”

(more…)

Tadamon! supporting Cinema Politica screening
@RIDM – Montreal International Documentary Festival !

Monday, November 17, 7pm
Concordia University
1455 de Maisonneuve west, H-110
by donation !
facebook event
Montréal, Québec

Ahmed Nour / Egypt – Morocco / 2013 / 71 / Arabic / s.t. English

A deeply personal film that reflects on revolution in Egypt as the lens lyrically moves among rich, captivating images, which are framed by thoughtful narration.

(more…)

Saturday, Nov. 22
1pm métro Guy-Concordia
Norman Bethune square
Montréal, Québec
facebook event

As health care, education, unemployment insurance, equity programs and the arts are cut in the name of austerity, military spending (at $22.6 billion in 2012) has increased every year since 1998 and is projected to continue. Since 2004, Canada has invaded or bombed Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq and Libya, leaving a trail of destruction followed by corrupt client regimes and neoliberal austerity policies.

(more…)

Palestinian Women’s Anti-Colonial Struggle Within the Israeli Prison System

photo ActiveStills : Palestinian women lead protest against the Prawer Plan

Friday November 7th, 4-6pm
McGill’s Institute of Islamic Studies
3485 McTavish Street, 017 Morrice Hall (the “TNC”)
venue is wheelchair accessible
free admission and open to the public
(facebook event)

The Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling presents the launch of Nahla Abdo’s latest book Captive Revolution: Palestinian Women’s Anti-Colonial Struggle Within the Israeli Prison System.

(more…)

Tadamon! Montréal statement – octobre 2014 (photo Noah Addis)

We reject the Canadian government’s decision to join a US-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. There is little doubt that these acts of violence will have devastating consequences for people living in the region, and will only serve to further conflict and suffering.

In early October, the Conservative government passed a motion in Parliament to go to war without even the pretense of democratic process. This decision authorizes the Canadian military to conduct air strikes for up to six months and includes the deployment of six CF-18 fighter jets, a refuelling tanker aircraft, two surveillance planes, one airlift plane, and about 600 air crew members. Canada joins the US, Great Britain, France, Australia and about a dozen other states, (including authoritarian regimes in Saudi Arabia and others parts of the Arabian/Persian Gulf) in what US President Barack Obama has declared to be “a long-term project.”

(more…)

Photo ©UNRWA

exhibit : October 3 to November 7
vernissage : Friday October 17, 5 à 7

film screening and closing night : November 7

location : Café Aquin, local A-2030 (pavillon Hubert-Aquin)
Université du Québec à Montréal
405 Sainte-Catherine East, Berri-UQÀM metro
facebook event

The popular uprising in Syria for liberation and dignity that broke out in March 2011, has, since the beginning, been met with a brutal regime response that has known no limits. The consequences of the Syrian regime’s response have been devastating: destruction of homes, urban neighbourhoods and infrastructure; deepening social divisions that have taken the form of sometimes violent, armed confrontation; deaths of civilians reaching over 150,000 persons; widening fear and distrust; countless injured; the uprooting of millions. In the face and in the aftermath of regime bombardment, siege, atrocity and aggression millions have taken flight and sought refuge within Syria, in neighbouring states and in states beyond the region.

(more…)

members of the Legal Community Condemn Assault on Gaza

A group of law students studying at the Faculty of Law at McGill University drafted a statement, in English and French, on behalf of themselves, and the broader legal community to condemn the continued violence against Gaza by Israeli forces. Specifically, the statement condemns the civilian causalities, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the violations of international law. The statement was written in response to the lack of vocal opposition, and in an effort to create a network of people united against such injustice.

The statement, entitled, “Members of the Legal Community Against the Israeli Assault on Gaza,” was circulated among law students, law professors, and legal organizations alike over the past weeks. It has gained support from over 50 people and organizations, including the Association des juristes progressistes in Quebec.
(more…)

la communauté s’exprime / solidarité avec la Palestine !

photo par Thien V. — 16 juillet 2014.

[

Rally and Creative Action Against the Wall and in Solidarity with Gaza

Saturday July 19, 2014
2:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Parc Jarry, in front of the G4S Headquarters
Corner Gary-Carter/St Laurent
Metro De Castelnau

Ten years ago, on July 9th 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a historic advisory opinion, deeming Israel’s apartheid wall illegal. At the time, the Court called for the wall to be dismantled, for Palestinian residents to be compensated, and for Israeli compliance to be enforced by the International community. One year later, Palestinian civil society launched an appeal to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the Israeli state until it complied with international law.

One decade later, settlements have expanded, land has been expropriated, and wall construction has continued with impunity. If completed, the Wall will stretch more than 800 km, annexing an estimated 46% of the West Bank. Already the effects of the Wall have been devastating, as it has cut off farmers from their lands, workers from their jobs, students from their campuses and communities from each other.

(more…)

Over 60 Quebec and Canadian trade unionists, artists, journalists, professors, reverends call on Israel to respect International law 10 years after the International Cour of Justice ruling

Time for Canada to honor its UN obligations towards Palestine

Ten years ago today, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled illegal Israel’s massive separation wall that runs alongside and inside the Palestinian territories.

On July 9, 2004, at the behest of the UN General Assembly, the ICJ, legal arm of the United Nations, indeed issued an Advisory opinion saying “the construction of the wall (by occupying power Israel), and its associated régime (imposed on the Palestinians), are contrary to international law”.

The ICJ Advisory deemed that “Israel cannot rely on a right of self-defense or on a state of necessity to preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall”.

Its ruling called for the barrier to be removed, for residents to be compensated, and for UN member States, including Canada, to act to obtain Israel’s compliance with the Fourth Geneva Convention (GCIV) – of which Canada is a signatory.

(more…)