As Israel’s illegal military occupation approaches a half-century, it’s long past time for concrete international action to pressure its government to reverse course. The Green Party of Canada’s recent vote to support “the use of divestment, boycott and sanctions (BDS) that are targeted at those sectors of Israel’s economy and society which profit from the ongoing occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories” represents such a measure.
Without international pressure, Israel will continue to steal Palestinian land, demolish olive groves, build Jewish-only roads, imprison without due process and impose collective punishment on innocent Palestinians. It will continue to violate international law and dominate a defenseless people.
Canadians cannot wash their hands of Palestinians’ plight. Ottawa has long been a close ally of Israel and each year registered Canadian charities channel millions of dollars to projects supporting Israel’s powerful military and illegal settlements.
We urge you not to succumb to political pressure to reverse or weaken the vote to support Palestinian rights. Your position is consistent with – indeed required by – the Fourth Geneva Convention, and reflects the vote of the vast majority of UN member states. It even aligns with official Canadian policy.
And, most importantly, it’s a contribution to the nonviolent campaign to advance Palestinian rights.
Signatories
Naomi Klein
Author, Social Activist and FilmmakerNoam Chomsky
Professor Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyTariq Ali
Writer, Journalist and FilmmakerBruce Cockburn, OC
Singer, Songwriter and GuitaristChristopher Hedges
Journalist, Activist, Author and Presbyterian MinisterYann Martel
AuthorGabor Mate
Author and PhysicianMurray Dobbin
Journalist, Broadcaster, Author and Social ActivistMartin Duckworth
Filmmaker, Prix du Québec 2015Yves Engler
Author and Political ActivistNorman Finkelstein
AuthorJohn Greyson
Filmmaker and York University professorRawi Hage
Writer and PhotographerVijay Prashad
Historian and JournalistRichard Reed Parry
Musician, Arcade FireLia Tarachansky
Israeli-Canadian Journalist and FilmmakerClayton Thomas-Muller
Stop-it-at-the-source Campaigner, 350.orgNadia Abu-Zehra
Associate Professor of International Development and Global Studies,
University of OttawaBilan Arte
University of ManitobaMohammed Azhar Ali Khan, C.M., O.Ont.
Former journalist, civil servant, refugee judgePatricia Balcom
Professor (retired), Département d’anglais, Université de MonctonReverend Steve Berube
Co-chair, United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/IsraelMartha Lucia Blandon
Chair, Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity NetworkMohamed Boudjenane
Acting President, Canadian Arab FederationDaniel Cayley-Daoust
Energy and Climate Campaigner, Council of CanadiansDerik Chica
Chair, Educators for Peace and JusticePeter Chidiac
Professor, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western OntarioAziz Choudry
Associate Professor, Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University
John Clarke
Ontario Coalition Against PovertyChandler Davis
Professor, University of TorontoJudith Deutsch
Member of Independent Jewish Voices
Board member of Centre for Social JusticeGordon Doctorow, Ed.D.
Adjunct Faculty, Nova Southeastern UniversityRachel Engler-Stringer
Associate Professor, University of SaskatchewanHammam Farah
Alumni Advisor, Students Against Israeli Apartheid at York UniversityHossein Fazeli
FilmmakerMireya Folch-Serra
Professor Emerita, Department of Geography, University of Western OntarioEllen Gabriel
Mohawk Activist and ArtistSam Gindin
Professor of Political Science, York UniversityCy Gonick
Founder, Canadian DimensionChris Hannah, Todd Kowalski, Jord Samolesky
Musicians, PropagandhiJens Hanssen
Associate Professor of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean History, University of TorontoMichelle Hartman
Associate Professor, Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill UniversityScott Harris
Chair, Palestinian Solidarity Network – EdmontonDavid Heap
Associate Professor, French & Linguistics, University of Western OntarioJake Javanshir
Member, Independent Jewish VoicesBruce Katz
Co-president, Palestinian and Jewish UnityMichael Keefer
Professor Emeritus, University of GuelphMaureen Korp, PhD
Author, LecturerAnnette Lengyel
Secretary, BDS Action CalgaryKay Ma
Coordinator, Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) PeterboroughRichard Marcuse
Social anthropology, University of Victoria, RetiredKhaled Mouammar
Former President, Canadian Arab FederationVicki Perkins
Spokesperson, Justice for PalestiniansJudy Rebick
AuthorDiana Ralph, MSW, Ph.D.
Retired Associate Professor Carleton UniversityDavid Rifat
Professor Emeritus, University of TorontoRev. Karen Rodman
Minister in the United Church of Canada
Member, Green Party of CanadaMarty Roth
Professor Emeritus of English, University of Minnesota
Member of the Green Party of CanadaReuben Roth, Ph.D.
School of Northern and Community Studies, Laurentian UniversityLarry Rousseau
Regional Executive Vice-President, National Capital Region, Public Service Alliance of CanadaSid Ryan
Former President, Ontario Federation LabourDouglass St. Christian
Emeritus Professor, Anthropology, University of Western OntarioRoswitha Shaw
Member, Green Party of CanadaSid Shniad
National Steering Committee, Independent Jewish Voice CanadaEric Shragge
President, Immigrant Workers CentrePance Stojkovski
Secretary, Socialist ProjectKen Stone
Treasurer, Hamilton Coalition to Stop the WarAlex Tyrrell
Leader, Green Party of QuebecMaria Paez Victor
Spokesperson, The Loui Riel Bolivian Circle (Toronto)Henry Voltmeter
Professor of Development Studies, Saint Mary’s UniversityBarry Weisleder
Secretary, Socialist ActionJames Winter
Professor of Communications, University of WindsorThomas Woodley
President, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle EastRalph Carl Wushke
Minister, Bathurst Street United Church