In his November 2022 Inbox, the CBC Ombudsman chose to comment on CBC’s coverage of Vancouver’s recent adoption of the IHRA; he did so before issuing his final report on an ongoing review, and clearly without any understanding of either the IHRA definition itself nor the dynamics of what happened at Vancouver City Council. Once again, it seems the CBC Ombudsman will fail the Palestinian community, similar to his 2021 ruling that the CBC “language guide” censoring the word Palestine was “reasonable”.… Read more
Author: cpaadmin
Vancouver Picket/Flash Action for Int’l Day of Solidarity
On November 26, there was a lively picket/flash action in Vancouver to mark the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians and to call for deshelving Israeli apartheid wines in BC liquor stores. Activists also condemned City Council’s recent adoption of IHRA. Cosponsors of the event included BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish, Canada Palestine Association, ILPS Canada, Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver and Samidoun Vancouver.… Read more
Debunking the IHRA Definition: A Palestinian Perspective
We will not be silenced! Yes, Israel is a racist endeavour!
On November 16, the new Vancouver City Council adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, despite a massive community pushback that has pledged to keep support of Palestine visible and vocal going forward. The main objective of the IHRA definition is to legitimize Israel and to slander all those who expose its illegal and inhumane activities, putting a chill on the Palestinian solidarity work and covering up for Israeli war crimes.… Read more
Vancouver City Council adopts anti-Palestinian IHRA definition
On November 16, despite strong and diverse opposition, Vancouver City Council adopted the dangerous and divisive IHRA definition. The IHRA is designed to “chill” speech on Palestine and institutionalizes anti-Palestinian racism.
Canada Palestine Association is grateful for all the speakers who took the time to express their opposition to the IHRA in front of council before the vote. They represented the best of Vancouver and showed that our voices will not be silenced.… Read more
Mark Int’l Day of Solidarity/Boycott Israeli Wines Picket Nov. 26
Great photos from our picket/instore flash action: #BoycottIsraeliWines #NoIHRA
Join local groups in Vancouver to mark the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with a picket to “Tell the BC NDP Govt to Pull Israeli Apartheid Wines”.… Read more
Vancouver and #NoIHRA, Again!
Action Alert:
Here is the text of the motion introduced to Vancouver City Council. We encourage all supporters to sign up to speak against the motion either in-person or by phone through this link. #NoIHRA
Update: The BC Civil Liberties Association put out a letter on Nov. 7 reaffirming that they “are strongly opposed to the IHRA definition because of its threat to freedom of expression”.… Read more
Open Letter to Algerian President and the Arab Summit
(English translation below)
الرئيس السيد عبد المجيد تبون
.نشكركم على تسميتكم القمة العربية بقمة فلسطين
.يمر العالم بمنعطف تاريخي والعالم العربي يغفوا في غيبوبة عميقة
بينما تستقبلون رؤساء دول أوروبية مسؤولة عن الابادة الجماعية في الجزائر، فلسطين وأماكن أخرى في العالم، يقوم الإتحاد الأوروبي بمنع مناضلين فلسطينيين من دخول أوروبا وسجن ولعقود طويلة مناضلين يدعمون القضية الفلسطينية
.الغرب يفرض العقوبات على أي دولة تهدد مصالحه، اما أنظمتنا العربية فلا تكترث لمصالح أمتنا وشعوبها
.إذا… Read more
March for Palestine, Oct. 29
Update: Photo Gallery from the Event
Oct. 29, 12 noon Commercial Skytrain Station: Join us as we march in solidarity on this International day of action for the Right of Return and Liberation! We’ll be meeting at the Commercial Skytrain Station to Grandview Park.
The march is an internationally coordinated action by the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement and coincides with their march on the European Parliament in Brussels.… Read more
Response from Imtiaz Popat, Mayoral Candidate Independent
1. No IHRA at Vancouver city council:
A motion was submitted by Councillor Kirby-Yung on July 23, 2019 to adopt the anti-Palestinian definition of the “International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism”, which aims to silence criticism of Israel. The motion was not passed, although it was supported by all five members of the Non-Partisan Association (NPA).
Do you agree that such a definition, that equates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, “undermines both the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality and the global struggle against antisemitism”? … Read more
Final Report #IVotePalestine Vancouver
Canada Palestine Association sent out a questionnaire to the candidates and parties running in the upcoming Vancouver city election, asking them about anti-Palestinian racism, #NoIHRA, JNF, police exchanges with Israeli units and making Vancouver an apartheid-free city. Here are the responses to date:
1. Response from Christine Boyle, OneCity Vancouver
2. Response from Sean Orr, Vote Socialist: YES to all five questions.… Read more