Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Lt. Col. Eyal Dror was scheduled to speak at multiple locations across Canada in the coming days.
He was to be be at two university campuses, Toronto Metropolitan (TMU) on March 27 and University of Manitoba (UofM) 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.
However, it seems the SSI (Students Supporting Israel) at Toronto Metropolitan University cancelled their own event.
This occurred after
- 1500+ letters were sent to each of the presidents of TUM and U of M, and to the Minister of Justice/Attorney General of Canada a few days before–over 4600 letters in total.
- local human rights activists in Toronto indicated they would have an action outside the event at TMU
Campus security told several of the demonstrators that there were “security” concerns. Then SSI had (later confirmed to one organizer by a TMU ombudsman via email), informing their decision to cancel.
Several people also held an action at the University of Manitoba outside the presentation by Dror. An additional 700+ people signed a petition to the UofM president, meaning that the UofM president received close to 2500 letters of concern about the event.
Palestinian Solidarity Means Opposing Israeli Whitewashers, even when They Don’t Show up, By Paul Salvatori March 31, 2023, the Palestine Chronicle
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
Photo Credit: Former Israeli Army official Eyal Dror. (Photo: video grab)
