View the presser at:
https://www.youtube.com/@justpeaceadvocates
Building on the comprehensive work of Just Peace Advocates, including dozens of submissions to the CRA, including in regard to these five specific charities, we are pleased UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese will join a press conference on November 8, 2024.
Toronto, ON —UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese will join Just Peace Advocates and Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada with Dr. Miles Howe will release a groundbreaking report exposing the alarming extent of Canadian charitable funding for organizations implicated in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, and what Albanese has termed “settler colonial genocide” in occupied Palestine. The report calls on the Canadian government to take immediate action to suspend the charitable status of these organizations and conduct thorough audits as well as criminal investigations of their activities.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The report details how millions of dollars in Canadian charitable donations have been funneled to organizations supporting illegal settlements, violent settler groups, and military activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. This financial support, enabled by tax benefits and subsidies, implicates the Canadian public and government in serious violations of international law and Canadian public policy.
Key recommendations include:
- Immediate Suspension of Charitable Status: Canada must immediately suspend the charitable status of organizations identified in the report, including the Mizrachi Organization of Canada, Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada, and the Heseg Foundation, pending thorough audits.
- RCMP Investigation: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police must investigate these charities for potential violations of the Criminal Code, particularly regarding complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Stricter Enforcement: The Canada Revenue Agency must enforce stricter compliance with Canadian charity law, especially for organizations operating internationally.
Significance of UN Special Rapporteur’s Involvement
Francesca Albanese’s participation adds significant weight to the report’s findings. As the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Albanese has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions, describing them as “genocide” and calling for international intervention. Her involvement underscores the global significance of the report’s findings and recommendations.
Why It Matters
While Canada has recently revoked the charitable status of some organizations for similar issues, this report reveals a much wider systemic problem. By allowing these charities to operate, Canada is indirectly supporting illegal activities in occupied Palestine, contradicting its own foreign policy and international legal obligations.
The report’s findings show that immediate action is necessary to ensure the integrity of Canada’s charitable sector and to uphold Canada’s commitment to international law and human rights. By addressing this financial complicity, Canada can take a significant step towards aligning its actions with its stated values and policies regarding Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 8, 2024
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese Joins Civil Society Groups to Present Groundbreaking Report on Canadian Charities Funding Israeli War Crimes
Report Exposes Millions in Tax-Deductible Donations Supporting Illegal Israeli Settlements and Military Activities in Occupied Palestine, Calls for Immediate Suspension of Charitable Status
Toronto, ON – A new report released today by Just Peace Advocates (JPA), Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canadaand Miles Howe, PhD, reveals that millions of dollars in Canadian charitable donations have been funneled to organizations implicated in supporting illegal Israeli settlements, violent settler groups, and military activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The report calls on the Canadian government to suspend the charitable status of these organizations, including the Mizrachi Organization of Canada, Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada, Canada Charity Partners, the Ronnen Harary Foundation and the Heseg Foundation, pending further investigation.
The report was presented at a press conference earlier today, featuring UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who has described Israel’s actions in Palestine as “settler colonial genocide.” Albanese joined a panel of experts—including report co-author Miles Howe, Professor Anver Emon, and Palestinian-Canadian community member Khaled Mouammar—to highlight the findings and urge immediate action by the Canadian government.
The investigation reveals that Canadian charitable funds, enabled by tax benefits, have supported organizations directly involved in military operations and the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestine. This financial support implicates Canada in violations of international law and undermines the country’s stated commitment to human rights. “Canada’s failure to stop the flow of taxpayer-supported money to Israel is contrary to international law, and likely renders Canada as being complicit with war crimes and crimes against humanity,” stated Mouammar during his remarks.
Francesca Albanese’s presence adds significant weight to the report’s findings. As the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, she has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies. Her endorsement of the report underscores the global importance of addressing the complicity of foreign governments and charitable organizations in Israeli war crimes.
“Canada is violating its international obligations. This is not about principles, this is not about rhetoric, this is about binding obligations,” said Albanese.
The report urges the Canadian government to suspend the charitable status of implicated organizations and launch investigations into their potential violations of Canadian law, specifically their complicity in war crimes. It also calls for stronger enforcement of Canadian charity law, particularly for organizations operating internationally, to ensure funds are not diverted to support activities that violate international law.
The findings of this report challenge Canada to confront its role in enabling Israeli military actions in Palestine. With Canadian charities supporting illegal settlements and military activities in the occupied territories, the report calls for urgent action to hold these organizations accountable and to prevent further abuse of the Canadian charitable system.
Watch the press conference on YouTube here or on Instagram here.
About Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV):IJV Canada is a grassroots organization grounded in Jewish tradition that advocates for justice and peace for all peoples in Palestine-Israel.
About Just Peace Advocates:Just Peace Advocates is a Canadian based independent human rights organization promoting Just Peace through the rule of law and respect for human rights in Canada and around the world for the Palestinian people and those that stand in solidarity for the human rights of the Palestinian people.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Karen Rodman, Just Peace AdvocatesEmail: info@justpeaceadvocates.ca
Iso Setel, Independent Jewish VoicesEmail: communications@ijvcanada.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2024
United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese joins civil society groups to present report on Canadian charities funding Israeli war crimes.
The report reveals that millions in tax-deductible donations support illegal Israeli settlements and military activities in occupied Palestine, and calls for the immediate suspension of their charitable status.
Toronto, ON – A new report released today by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada, Just Peace Advocates and Miles Howe, PhD, reveals that millions of dollars in Canadian charitable donations have been funneled to organizations involved in supporting illegal Israeli settlements, violent settler groups and military activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The report calls on the Canadian government to suspend the charitable status of these organizations, including the Mizrachi Organization of Canada, the Jewish Heritage Foundation of Canada, Canada Charity Partners, the Ronnen Harary Foundation and the Heseg Foundation, pending further investigation.
The report was presented at a press conference today, attended by United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who called Israel’s actions in Palestine “colonial genocide.” Ms. Albanese joined a panel of experts—including report co-author Miles Howe, Professor Anver Emon, and Palestinian-Canadian Khaled Mouammar—to highlight the report’s findings and urge the Canadian government to take immediate action.
The investigation reveals that Canadian charitable funds, benefiting from tax advantages, have supported organizations directly involved in military operations and the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestine. This financial support implicates Canada in violations of international law and undermines the country’s stated commitment to human rights. ” Canada’s failure to end the flow of taxpayers’ money to Israel is contrary to international law and likely makes Canada complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity ,” Mr. Mouammar said during his intervention.
The presence of Francesca Albanese adds significant weight to the report’s findings. As the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, she has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies. Her support for the report underscores the global importance of combating the complicity of foreign governments and charities in Israeli war crimes.
” Canada is in breach of its international obligations. This is not about principles, this is not about rhetoric, this is about binding obligations,” Albanese said.
The report urges the Canadian government to suspend the charitable status of the organizations involved and launch investigations into their potential violations of Canadian law, particularly their complicity in war crimes. It also calls for stricter enforcement of Canadian charitable legislation, particularly for organizations operating internationally, to ensure that funds are not diverted to support activities that violate international law.
The findings of this report confront Canada with its role in facilitating Israeli military actions in Palestine. With Canadian charities supporting illegal settlements and military activities in the occupied territories, the report calls for urgent action to hold these organizations accountable and to prevent further abuses of the Canadian charitable system.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
- Iso Setel, Independent Jewish Voices Canada, communications@ijvcanada.org ,
- Karen Rodman, Just Peace Movement, info@justpeaceadvocates.ca
