Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Canadian Complicity in Israeli War Crimes: Electoral Politics

  • Marion Kawas Marion Kawas
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 8 Sep 2021 16:27
  • 10 Shares
4 Min Read

It's time to be clear as we approach the 28th anniversary of the signing of the Oslo accords that the pivotal issue now is the system of Israeli apartheid and its devastating effects on the Palestinian people and nation.

  • x
  • Canadian Complicity in Israeli War Crimes: Electoral Politics

Pro-Palestine activists in Canada are continuing to highlight years of biased foreign policy as Canadian voters are once again going to the polls, just 2 years after the last federal election.

In August 2019, faced with the same situation, the #IVotePalestine campaign was launched to try and educate the public on the decades of official Canadian complicity in Israeli war crimes. And why such complicity had tarnished any credibility of Canada as an international or neutral “honest broker”.

Much has happened in the intervening two years. Canada lost its bid for a UN Security Council, in large part due to its anti-Palestinian policies. There have been significant steps in progressive circles to bring the Palestinian issue forward, including a resolution passed at the last New Democratic Party NDP Convention in April 2021. All of this has resulted in more voices during this election campaign calling for justice for Palestine.

The two main Canadian parties that have governed for decades, the Liberals and the Conservatives, have only a few substantive differences in their approach to Palestine; in fact, these two parties engage in a macabre competition to see who can best serve "Israel’s" interests. A sitting Liberal MP recently tweeted how the Trudeau government’s voting record at the United Nations was more supportive of "Israel" than his conservative predecessor, Stephen Harper, and concluded it with her own pronouncement that “I will always fight anti-Semitism”. The leader of the opposition Conservatives just repledged last week that he will move Canada’s embassy to Jerusalem if elected.

The Liberal Party, however, is extremely adept at performative gestures to present itself as being concerned about Palestinian rights while at the same time, consistently promoting actions that help entrench Israeli expansionism and aggression. As noted earlier this year by Canada Palestine Association, in a statement on Canada’s support for "Israel" at the International Criminal Court:

Canada will make some shallow gesture or nice photo-op, to show that they really do care about Palestinians and their rights. Some funding for UNRWA, but only if we can control the books in their schools and every action from their senior managers. Or a Canadian diplomat shows up in a photo at a West Bank location with EU reps to demonstrate their opposition to yet another Israeli demolition of a school or a village. But don’t expect any further meaningful action once that school is actually demolished, because that type of serious challenge to the Israeli government’s trampling of Palestinian rights is not on the agenda of the Canadian government.”

This is the Canadian political landscape that passes for rational policy on Palestine and Palestinian dispossession, an issue in which Canada has a long and stained legacy of complicity with Israeli ethnic cleansing and apartheid. Navigating this minefield while at the same time maintaining the integrity and truth of Palestinian grassroots demands is daunting and at times surreal.

#IVotePalestine 2021

Related News

Zionist infiltration of entertainment industry: The case of United Talent Agency

Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

The #IVotePalestine campaign has been relaunched for 2021, this time led by the Canadian BDS Coalition, and has sent a questionnaire to party leaders as well as candidates standing in the upcoming elections. Their 11 questions cover a broad range of topics, from sanctions on "Israel" to protection of Palestinian children to defense of civil rights in Canada for Palestinian activists. Some of the key points candidates are asked to comment on are:

1.   Recognizing Israeli Apartheid

2.   Sanctioning Israel and #NoIsraeliArms4Canada

3.   Recognizing the right of return for Palestinians

4.   No Criminalization of Palestinian Advocacy

The response to the questionnaire has far exceeded organizers’ expectations, especially from NDP and Green Party candidates. Although some stayed within the confines of their official party platform, others spoke up more strongly in support of sanctions on "Israel" and acknowledging the legitimate rights of Palestinians.

There were other encouraging signs during this election campaign. One NDP candidate was forced to delete a controversial tweet from May 2021, that claimed the term Nakba was “offensive to most Jews” and classified it as “hateful language”. The response from both within NDP ranks and from other activists on social media was forceful and loud. 

However, activists must also keep up the pressure to ensure that Canada, and other western governments, can no longer hide behind the smokescreen of the failed “two-state” solution. For several decades, Canadian politicians have been allowed to avoid any meaningful challenge on the issue of Palestinian rights as long as they mouth some token words of support for the Oslo accords and the long-delayed and never-delivered mythical Palestinian state. It's time to be clear as we approach the 28th anniversary of the signing of those accords that the pivotal issue now is the system of Israeli apartheid and its devastating effects on the Palestinian people and nation.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Mayadeen’s editorial stance.
  • Palestine
  • Canada
  • Israel
  • Palestinian cause
  • Normalizing ties with Israel
Marion Kawas

Marion Kawas

Writer; Member of Canada Palestine Association; Former Cohost of Voice of Palestine, Canada.

Most Read

All
How is it that the Western regimes, which claimed to support the fake revolutions of Lebanon, Libya, and Syria, waged constant war against the actual Ansar Allah-led revolution in Yemen? (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Understanding Yemen 1/2: The Revolution

  • Opinion
  • 30 Jun 2025
Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

Why Netanyahu is on the ropes

  • Analysis
  • 4 Jul 2025
Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

Ukraine’s Corporate Carve-Up Collapses?

  • Analysis
  • 11 Jul 2025
Africa’s top university’s ‘Gaza Resolutions’ outrages pro-'Israel' lobby

Africa’s top university’s ‘Gaza Resolutions’ outrages pro-'Israel' lobby

  • Analysis
  • 4 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
War on Iran

More from this writer

All
Why I hate Zionism and will never forgive its disciples

Why I hate Zionism and will never forgive its disciples

Why I hate Zionism and its backers more than ever!

Why I hate Zionism and its backers more than ever!

Divesting from Genocide!

Divesting from Genocide!

We will never stop advocating for Palestine!

We will never stop advocating for Palestine!

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS