Power Suits 4 June 2020
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to shield Israel from accountability.
ReutersHuman rights advocates are admonishing the Canadian prime minister’s tepid response to Israel’s plan for West Bank annexation, calling it “frankly too little, too late.”
On Tuesday, during his daily press briefing, Justin Trudeau stated that Canada had “deep concerns and disagreement” with the annexation plans, but did not challenge Israel’s plans directly or threaten to withhold funds.
The Trudeau government has instead reserved those types of threats for the International Criminal Court. The twist is that Canada has threatened to punish the ICC for investigating Israel’s crimes.
Independent Jewish Voices Canada said that Trudeau’s statement on Israel’s illegal annexation plan “was the first time he’s commented publicly on the matter.”The group reiterated its demands to impose sanctions against Israel’s annexation plans which “would be consistent with other foreign policy positions taken in recent months by the Canadian government.”
Canada’s foreign minister, for example, marked the sixth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea by issuing a strong condemnation.
Along with IJV Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress – which represents more than three million workers – urged the Trudeau administration to “consider a forceful response” to Israel’s plans, including the imposition of sanctions.
More than 50 former Canadian diplomats also demanded that Trudeau respect international legal protocols and condemn Israel’s annexation plans.
Canada’s Green Party has condemned the annexation plans.
And the left-leaning New Democratic Party has criticized the efforts by Trudeau’s Liberal Party to shield Israel from accountability.
Researcher Michael Bueckert said that the NDP has merely offered words when action is needed, especially when it comes to the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights.
The NDP’s leader, Jagmeet Singh, recently stated that he was opposed to the BDS call. That appeared to be a U-turn: Singh had previously said he was open to supporting sanctions against Israel.
Calls to refuse Canada’s bid for UN seat
Meanwhile, more than 100 international human rights and faith-based organizations have joined hundreds of scholars, journalists, artists and activists calling on the United Nations to refuse Canada’s years-long bid for a seat on the body’s Security Council.
“Canada has repeatedly sided with Israel,” the letter states, adding that Trudeau’s government has “justified Israel’s killing” of protesters with the Great March of Return in Gaza and “has sought to deter the International Criminal Court from investigating Israeli war crimes.”
The letter notes that when she was foreign minister, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that if Canada wins a seat on the council, it would be an “asset to Israel” and would “strengthen” Canada’s collaboration with Israel.
“When deciding who represents the international community on the UN’s highest decision-making body, we urge you to consider the UN-established rights of the long-suffering Palestinians,” the letter states, urging UN ambassadors to cast their 17 June votes for Ireland and Norway instead.
Prominent signatories include Noam Chomsky, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, former UN special rapporteur Richard Falk, South African law professor John Dugard and filmmaker Ken Loach.
Another open letter urging UN ambassadors to reject Canada’s bid has garnered thousands of signatures.
Last month, 72 percent of respondents said Canada does not deserve a seat, according to an online poll by the Toronto Star.
“We want to remind UN ambassadors that Canada has consistently isolated itself against world opinion when it comes to the long-suffering Palestinians,” stated Karen Rodman of Just Peace Advocates, an activist group in Canada.
“We hope that all member states and their UN ambassadors will be thinking about Palestine as they cast their votes later in the month,” Rodman added.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article indicated that Chrystia Freeland was the current foreign minister. It has been corrected.
Tags
- Canada
- Justin Trudeau
- UN Security Council
- Independent Jewish Voices Canada
- Just Peace Advocates
- BDS
- annexation
Comments
Annexation
Permalink Frank Dallas replied on
Canada has long been second only to the US in its apologetics for the Israeli State. The real danger here, as Finkelstein pointed out a quarter of a century ago, is that the granting of a Palestinian State, even in its risible form under the Trump plan, will be taken by the world's leaders as a solution to the Palestinian problem. PM Johnson welcomed Trump's student rag plan by saying at least it offers a two-states arrangement. This is replicating, of course, the South African creation of the Bantustans. Israel would have effective complete control over Palestinian life. The Palestinians would be a sump of cheap labour. Yet for people like the coagulated bundle of evil that is Tony Blair, the rapprochement of the Gulf States and Israel is wonderful and indicates the death of any chance of a Palestinian State. Thus, the Palestinians are disposed of. If annexation goes ahead it's likely world leaders will line up to declare it a solution. We can't expect leadership from them. We must do it. Remember it was worldwide pressure which brought SA apartheid to an end. We must ensure the same happens for the Palestinians. Nor must we lose sight that a Palestinian State is not enough: equity is indispensable. Israel must pay for the decades of oppression and Palestinians must see that happen. Crucially, the economic resources of a unified Palestine must be equitably distributed. The Israelis have systematically destroyed the economy of the West Bank and Gaza while at the same time profiting from Palestinian labour. There must be redress for that. Equity, not merely a Palestinian State, needs to be put at the head of the argument. Doing so will strengthen our case. The Zionists will have a fit of the vapours. Bring the smelling salts. They think a Palestinian State outrageous, which is exactly why we should argue vociferously for equity. Their arguments against will be threadbare, their voices ever more hysterical. Not just a State, but equity. That should be our slogan.
wrong minister
Permalink Eric replied on
Chrystia Freeland WAS the Canadian foreign minister in 2018, but is NOT now.
That said, her replacement also seems right-wing, and in any case she's still
believed to be steering major policy in her new position: deputy prime minister.
TRUDEAU AND EMPTY WORDS
Permalink JOHN CHUCKMAN replied on
"Trudeau offers empty words on Israel’s annexation plans"
Trudeau offers empty words on many matters.
And especially the malicious Trump foreign policies.
He supports them either openly or quietly.
His former Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, was on good terms with Pompeo. She is a Neocon-Lite.
He abandoned the Liberal Party's traditions of showing some independence and character in foreign policy.
His father was an admirable leader that way. So were several other Liberal Canadian Prime Ministers - Lester Pearson, Paul Martin, Jean Chretien.
But Trudeau has changed all that.
He openly supports Trump's dirty efforts in Venezuela. He has destroyed Canada's relationship with China following Trump. He supports the ugly hostilities towards Iran. He sells armored cars to Saudi Arabia as it massacres people in Yemen. He supports Trump's apartheid plan for Palestine.
Despite the artistic looks and the words about certain causes like global warming, this is not an admirable leader. Nor a very effective one. He was first elected because of his father’s memory and his own good looks.
And he has had several scandals to boot.
He went so down in the public's estimation, he almost lost the last election. He is a minority leader with less than one-third of total votes.
And that's only because he failed to deliver on election reform his first term after strongly campaigning for it.
TRUDEAU AND EMPTY WORDS
Permalink JOHN CHUCKMAN replied on
(REVISED TEXT)
"Trudeau offers empty words on Israel’s annexation plans"
Trudeau offers empty words on many matters.
And especially the malicious Trump foreign policies.
He supports them either openly or quietly.
His former Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, was on good terms with the unpleasant Mike Pompeo. She is a Neocon-Lite.
Justin Trudeau abandoned the Liberal Party's traditions of showing some independence and character in foreign policy.
His father was an admirable leader that way. So were several other Liberal Canadian Prime Ministers - Lester Pearson, Paul Martin, Jean Chretien.
But Trudeau has changed all that.
He openly supports Trump's dirty efforts in Venezuela. He has destroyed Canada's relationship with China by following Trump. He supports the ugly hostilities towards Iran. He sells armored cars to Saudi Arabia as it massacres people in Yemen. He echoed Pompeo’s threats to the ICC.
Despite the artistic looks and the words about certain causes like global warming, this is not an admirable leader. Nor a very effective one. He was first elected because of his father’s memory and his own good looks. In a way, he represents a similar phenomenon to Trump, and that is a claim for leadership without possessing most of the required skills – a kind of empty egotism.
And he has had several scandals to boot.
He went so down in the public's estimation that he almost lost the last election. He is a minority leader with less than one-third of total votes, which is quite a reflection on Canada’s democracy.
And he wouldn’t even be that perhaps if he hadn’t completely failed in his first term to legislate the election reform he had promised so many times.
Thank you for getting the
Permalink Carol Guzman replied on
Thank you for getting the truth out and for having the courage to educate people about the realities of Palestine and the struggles of the Palestinian People. It is so rare to see those truths published and I hope I can play as important a role as you have through your love and your work. Take care.