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.
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.”
bring flags of resistance / casseroles to express our collective solidarity for Palestine !
[Rally and Creative Action Against the Wall and in Solidarity with Gaza
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.
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.
Mark your calendars for the ninth annual Israeli Apartheid Week, which will be taking place from March 6th to 13th at campuses across Montreal.
Last year, Montreal joined over a 100 cities around the world in holding a series of workshops, film screenings, conferences, and concerts aiming to raise awareness surrounding the realities of Israeli apartheid. Join us this year as we continue to build momentum around the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign and the Palestinian struggle for self-determination. More details to follow in the months to come.
