If the Canadian govt is serious about its intention to restrict trade on goods from Israeli settlements, it’s not difficult! You can start by banning Israeli wines now! Or is this announcement just “symbolic”, as some British diplomats have already reportedly said.
As a solidarity group that has been active for almost two decades in boycotting/banning Israeli wines, we are not moved by all this hoopla over the Canadian government’s apparent declaration to “ban settlement goods”. Firstly, Minister Anand’s statement only “confirm(ed) their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law”.
Secondly, if the timeline on labelling settlement wines correctly was any indication, we will be waiting a long time for any action from the federal government. After nine years, it is still unclear how, when and if these wines (apparently illegal even by longstanding Canadian policy) should be labelled as such.
Even if the government followed through in a timely manner, this small measure is woefully inadequate in addressing the current war crimes and genocide being perpetrated by Israel. Many are questioning if all the fanfare around this is intended simply as a distraction from the ongoing complicity of many Western governments and Israel’s culpability.
Boycott Genocidal “Israel” and its Enablers! – Canada Palestine Association
