Take one minute to write to the Canadian Attorney General & Justice Minister Lametti, with copies to the presidents of Toronto Metropolitan University and University of Manitoba.
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Tell Minister Lametti to take immediate steps to ensure a thorough investigation occurs before allowing Lt. Col Eyal Dror or any other current or former member promoting the IDF to come to Canada.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lt. Col. Eyal Dror is scheduled to speak at multiple locations across Canada in the coming days.
He will be at two university campuses, Toronto Metropolitan on March 27 and University of Manitoba on March 28.
As similar events in the past have sought to induce Canadians into joining the IDF, there’s reason to believe that Dror’s events may be part of efforts to encourage students to join a foreign military.
It is a crime in Canada to recruit anyone for a foreign military. It is also a crime to aid and abet such recruitment by offering incentives and encouraging any person to serve in a foreign military.
The Foreign Enlistment Act states,
Any person who, within Canada, recruits or otherwise induces any person or body of persons to enlist or to accept any commission or engagement in the armed forces of any foreign state or other armed forces operating in that state is guilty of an offence.
In October 2020, a legal complaint was provided to Attorney General Lametti to investigate illegal Israeli military recruiting in Canada, and Minister Lametti indicated he had referred the complaint to the authorities: the police and the Public Prosecutor for investigation.
In November 2020, the RCMP confirmed they were investigating. Since that time thousands of letters have been sent to you and the RCMP, but we still wait for details on the investigation findings.
Learn more about the #NoCanadians4IDF.
Dror’s presence may violate Canada’s obligations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. As per the Rome Statute, Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act indicates that those persons who have committed crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and/or war crimes may be prosecuted for that offence. Any person who conspires or attempts to commit these crimes is also guilty of an indictable offence.
During his IDF service Lt. Col. Eyal Dror reportedly held the following positions:
-Liaison Officer, Bethlehem DCL, 2005-2007
-Civilian Intelligence Officer, Hebron DCL, 2008-2011
-Head of Operation Sector, Gaza, DCL, 2011-2013
-Head of Operational Branch, Central Command, 2013-2016
-Commander of Good Neighbour Project, 2016-2018
Canadian Government
As the minister responsible for the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act it is critical that Attorney General Lametti ensures that no IDF personnel entering Canada have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity.
On Campuses
Mohamed Lachemi, President of Toronto Metropolitan University, and Michael Benarroch, President of the University of Manitoba, need to take action, as any possible promotion of a foreign military is not acceptable on any campus. In fact, it may be traumatizing to many students who have suffered and/or had family suffer from war crimes, crimes against humanity, expulsion, torture, genocide and apartheid. Surely Dror’s presence does not align with the stated commitment to decolonization and being an anti-colonial site of learnings.
Initiated by:
Canadian Foreign Policy Institute
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association