Legal and policy experts from prominent Palestinian human rights organizations spoke about the threat by Israel to terminate their work and silence others. They were joined by Michael Lynk and Yavar Hameed who spoke about how Canada has enabled the Israeli war on Palestinian Civil Society and how Canadian civil society can respond.
Background:
In the early morning hours of August 18, the Israeli military raided the offices of seven prominent Palestinian civil society organizations, destroying property, seizing files and office equipment, and welding the entrances to the offices shut. Since then, the Israeli Security Agency, the Shin Bet, has interrogated or called in for questioning representatives of the organizations who have refused to abide the closure of their offices.
A year ago the Israeli Knesset passed legislation designating six of these organizations as “terrorist organizations” and the Israeli military issued regulations determining them to be “unlawful associations.”
Ottawa has refused to condemn Israel’s actions. Canada continues to say it is waiting for information from Israel.
Co-convened by the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and Just Peace Advocates
Panel includes
Susan Power, Head Research and Legal Advocacy, Al Haq
Sahar Francis, General Director of Ramallah-based Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
Michael Lynk, legal academic, associate professor at the University of Western Ontario and former United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Yavar Hameed, lawyer in Ontario with a focus on racial profiling, lawful expression, equality rights, prisoner rights and migrant protection
Moderator: Bianca Mugyenyi, the Director at Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
DEFENDING PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY: UNDERSTANDING CANADA’S ROLE — LINKS & RESOURCES FROM WEBINAR DISCUSSION:
Check for indigenous area you live. https://native-land.ca/resources/territory-acknowledgement/
Find out more about The Canadian Foreign Policy Institute: www.foreignpolicy.ca
Find out more about Just Peace Advocates: https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/
Find out more about Al-Haq: https://www.alhaq.org
Find out more about Addameer https://www.addameer.org/
Information on the raids can be found at: https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/20442.html
Take action: Join the 1500 letters that have been sent: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-letter-canada-needs-to-hold-israel-accountable-in-regard-to-its-treatment-of-children-in-palestine-and-israels-silencing-of-those-organizations-documenting-advocating-for-children?source=direct_link&
The recent NDP statement https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/supporters-of-palestinian-rights-should-praise-ndps-dramatic-policy-shift
In Canada, learn more & join in boycott, divestment & sanctions (BDS) through the Canadian BDS Coalition & 20+ organizations across Canada/Quebec. https://bdscoalition.ca/
Youtube Link mentioned earlier: Innumerable Ways Canada Supports Israeli Apartheid – And What We Can Do About it – Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DeGbYLGptk
Learn more about Salah Hammouri’s case, and Canada’s effort to try to get the Canadian government & its diplomat to speak out. https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/lawyer-organizations-others-urge-canada-head-of-mission-wettlaufer-to-visit-human-rights-defender-saleh-hammouri-in-israeli-prison/
Action in support of Khalil https://samidoun.net/2022/08/khalil-awawdehs-message-to-the-world-our-cause-is-just-regardless-of-the-high-price-paid/
Article: Canada’s contradictions on Palestine https://electronicintifada.net/content/canadas-contradictions-palestine/34971
For info on the bus ad’s in St. John’s check out. https://bdscoalition.ca/2022/07/29/metrobus-ads-denounce-apartheid-practices-of-israeli-government/
Canada’s vote at UN since 1947. Not good from the beginning. https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/it-is-that-time-of-year-again-the-un-votes-on-palestine-nothing-new-canadas-vote-at-the-un-since-1947-shows-at-best-conditional-support-for-palestine/
Info on the campaign that CFPI and Just Peace Advocates in regard to Canada’s 2020 UNSC bid. https://rabble.ca/political-action/how-activists-thwarted-canadas-bid-un-security-council-seat/
An webinar from several months ago with Yavar: Double Standard: Canada’s terrorist list, the IDF, Palestinians and the case of Khaled Barakat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz7ZB3Yahwo
Stop the smear campaigns against Palestinian Advocacy! civil society has joined–learn more. http://cpavancouver.org/2022/05/stop-smear-campaign-against-palestinian-advocacy/
Webinar you may appreciate: Palestine Advocacy and the Law in Canada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aH3WqbmWpc
No Way To Treat a Child Canada: https://www.nwttac.canada.dci-palestine.org/
Those who want to understand their own legal rights, you can download “Tactical & Legal Guide” and factsheets. https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/legal-and-tactical-guide/
Article on recent NDP statements on Palestine: https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/supporters-of-palestinian-rights-should-praise-ndps-dramatic-policy-shift
Those interested in asking the NDP to remove itself from the Canada Israel Parliamentary committee: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctYH7bEC4qGnxz7aqpILEwnVFLuxPdtrD15q_1UJUe4fHrvA/viewform
Canadian BDS Coalition: https://bdscoalition.ca/2022/03/28/apartheid-free-zones-and-the-boycott-shame-list/
RBC campaign related to investments: https://bdscoalition.ca/2021/11/01/rbcsayno2palantir/
Info on illegal Israeli military recruiting in Canada including webinar: https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/say-no-to-illegal-military-recruiting-in-canada/
42 Canadian organizations signed statement regarding the ICC, and this is the dismal response a year later from Global Affairs Canada: https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/a-response-from-global-affairs-a-year-later-regarding-canadas-stance-on-the-icc-jurisdiction-on-palestine/
Join in the call for the NDP to remove its MPs from the Canada Israel Parliamentary Committee. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctYH7bEC4qGnxz7aqpILEwnVFLuxPdtrD15q_1UJUe4fHrvA/viewform
Canada’s diplomat in Tel Aviv and Ramallah’s responses to Al-Haq’s Jonathan Kuttab: https://electronicintifada.net/content/canadas-contradictions-palestine/34971
Legal and Tactical Guide that provides comprehensive information on your rights. https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/legal-and-tactical-guide/
These resources provide info on the legal aspects that Yavar Hameed is speaking about. (Scroll down for info bulletins): https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/resource-materials/
Learn about Canadian Foreign Policy Institute. https://www.foreignpolicy.ca/ and Just Peace Advocates https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/
To find your MP, and ask to meet with them. https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
