Category: CPA Statements

Open letters and statements to the public from the Canada Palestine Association.

Don’t lecture Palestinians about “violence”!

Expanded version of this article on AlMayadeen English: We will never stop advocating for Palestine! | Al Mayadeen English

Almost eight months of live-streamed genocide and still no end in sight. No meaningful moves by Western powers to halt the Israeli daily atrocities, in fact each day brings new evidence of their complicity. And the Zionist military just announced it wishes to continue for another seven months! 

Recently a small community in British Columbia, Canada held a successful film showing and meeting to support Palestinians and Gaza. They showed the film “Where Should the Birds Fly”, which documents the horrific experiences of one young girl and her friends/family during the 2008-2009 Israeli onslaught. 

A speaker after the film told the audience: “Understand that the kids you saw in that movie are today’s resistance fighters”. And until the Zionist settler colonialist project is truly defeated, then Palestinians will resist and fight for a brighter future, “from generation to generation, until return and total liberation”.  

In an article written late last year, I wrote: “Can you imagine how tired Palestinians are of trying to explain to the world why they deserve to be treated humanely? How tired they are of constantly having to justify why their voices should be not just heard, but trusted? Anyone just waking up to the Palestinian reality in the last two months should know Palestinians have been carrying this burden of telling and re-telling their story for decades, with minimal global response.” 

We also need to address the underlying and deeply entrenched racism that has helped facilitate this genocide. The longevity of the “mass rape” story, despite being debunked repeatedly, has drawn back the curtain on the depth of anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab racism in Western societies. The Zionist lobby seems to have decided from day one that this particular piece of “atrocity propaganda” would engage the most support and sympathy. 

There is of course the normal revulsion at the sexual abuse of any person, male or female, which the Zionists have manipulated par excellence. But this still does not fully explain the ease with which this story keeps getting recycled and amplified and believed in the West, which relies on the centuries old distrust and stereotypes of “Arab men”. Arab men as bloodthirsty, violent, lusting after women (and white women in particular), undisciplined and intensely misogynistic. 

Professor Rudolph Ware has pointed out that this is an age-old tactic that was (and is still) used against the black community in the U.S., detailing how false rape allegations in the US often led to mass lynchings. He also talked about how the issue of “safety” is also weaponized against people of colour, as we are now seeing on many university campuses. 

So, please, don’t watch Palestinian babies burn to death and then lecture those same people about how to resist and when to resist. Don’t wring your hands now about the Rafah massacres if you are in anyway complicit in enabling that trajectory to occur. “Nothing can wash the blood from your hands,” said the Reverend Munther Isaac at an Easter vigil for Gaza, addressing the hypocrisy of Western regimes. 

Now is not the time (if one ever existed) for Western supporters to appoint themselves as the moral arbiters on what constitutes acceptable liberation tactics and behaviour. Now is not the time for them to declare who is a “good” Palestinian or a “bad” Palestinian. If they are genuinely interested in supporting the Palestinian struggle, they must focus all their attention on ridding themselves of their own rotten governments, media and institutions that have been supporting this genocide and have burdened the world with such inhumanity. 

By Marion Kawas

Stop Harassing anti-Genocide Advocates for Palestine!

Update – Individuals can sign on to this new statement from other groups: Open Letter in Support of Charlotte Kates and the Right to Free Expression

The repression against Palestinians and their supporters has been mounting across Canada in recent months; in every major city, there are cases of fraudulent charges (often later dropped) brought against activists who dare to clearly challenge the Zionist narrative. 

The latest of these politically motivated charges happened a few days ago in Vancouver BC, where Charlotte Kates, the international coordinator of Samidoun was briefly detained and charged with alleged “hate speech” offenses.  She was released on the outrageous condition that she does not attend any “protests, rallies or assemblies” until the court date of October 8 (five months away). All this apparently for supporting the right of the Palestinian resistance to fight back against Zionist military oppression and saying “Long live October 7” during a rally speech on April 26. 

The Zionist lobby has been on a witch-hunt against Kates, Samidoun and her husband, Khaled Barakat, for several years now. They have been pushing the federal government to include Samidoun on Canada’s “terrorist” list, and CIJA even included this demand as part of their last election platform. However, Kates questioning why Palestinian resistance groups are already on that same list is somehow unacceptable. 

We are sick of the double standard at play here. Zionist groups are free to bring actual Israeli soldiers on campuses to offer their “insights from the ground”, their supporters are publicly declaring they are “arming themselves”, but someone daring to even show verbal support for the Palestinian right to resist foreign occupation and aggression is charged with “hate speech”! 

Are our politicians not ashamed of the way they all line up to “pile on” and attack whoever the major pro-Israel groups decide is the current persona non grata? And that they do this within just a few hours of each other? From mayors to provincial premiers to federal politicians, time and again we have seen this pattern of rushing to condemn some specific protestor or group.  Our politicians, and many of the mainstream media, seem to have no shame when it comes to proving their loyalty to the Zionist project. 

Let’s discuss this issue of censuring anyone talking about October 7 (unless it enhances the Zionist narrative of course). It has nothing to do with concern for alleged “racism” or “hate crimes”. Rather, it has more to do with Israel trying to protect its veneer of military invincibility and its much-vaunted cyber security and intelligence. That is the real crux of all the misinformation and blatant (often later debunked) propaganda around what happened on October 7. This brief but decisive dismantling of the Israeli military deterrence is what now drives the revenge campaign of genocide going on in Gaza. 

We will support and defend all our community activists. This is not the first case of fraudulent charges being brought against pro-Palestinian advocates and it won’t be the last. Although many of these charges are later dropped, the Zionist lobby groups engaging in this “lawfare” type activity have another agenda…to waste time and resources, to confuse the solidarity movement, and to create a “chill” and an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship.
We will not stand by nor stand down. Palestine will be Free!

Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver

Endorsed by:
Al-Jamia Masjid Vancouver 
BDS Vancouver/Coast Salish Territories
Canadian BDS Coalition
Canadian Foreign Policy Institute 
Greater Toronto 4 BDS (GTA4BDS)
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
Ontario Palestinian Rights Association (OPRA) 
Palestinian and Jewish Unity Montreal
Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine Israel 
The Regina Peace Council 
The International League of Peoples’ Struggle in Canada (ILPS) 

Anti-imperialist Alliance Ottawa
BCTF Divest Now 
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid Victoria
Communist Workers Circle Toronto
Human Rights for All (HR4A) Saskatoon
International Action Center
 Palestine Action Heretaunga Aotearoa/New Zealand
Solidarité Sherbrooke-Gaza 
Teachers for Future Turtle Island
United National Antiwar Coalition
SanctionsKill Campaign
Youth for Palestine Vancouver
Workers World Party

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Background Information and Premier David Eby’s Slander

The Zionist ethnic cleansing and genocide started with the 1948 Nakba, where two thirds of the Palestinian population were kicked out of their homeland and over five hundred towns and villages were wiped off the map of the world. Like today, this was accompanied by tens of brutal massacres, and 80% of the Gazan population are refugees from the original 1948 Nakba still waiting to return to their homes and properties. In 1956, Israel occupied Gaza and committed many massacres against the civilian unarmed population, one of these massacres was documented by the UN in Khan Yunis. In 1967 Gaza again came under Israel occupation alongside the West Bank and other Arab lands; since then, Israel is in violation of two UN Security Resolutions (242 and 338) that called on Israel to withdraw from all those occupied territories and called “For achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem”.  

In January 2006, Hamas was elected and won 74 of the 132 seats (while Fatah trailed with 45) in the Palestinian legislative election. For almost twenty years, Gaza has been under tight Israeli siege and the scene of many brutal and fascist Israeli aggressions.  

October 7, 2023 was not the start of the conflict, it came as a result of a continued Israeli Apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide and Israeli and western denial of Palestinian human and national rights. 

Oct. 7 was a legitimate military operation against one of the most brutal and longest occupations in modern history. In fact, UN resolution A/RES/43/106 of Dec. 8, 1988 “Reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for their independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial domination, apartheid and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle;”  

Israel, its lobby and apologists, in an attempt to cover up Israel’s military blunder, are trying to slander the Palestinian people and their resistance movement. They are also trying to criminalize those who recognize what the UN weapons inspector to Iraq, Scott Ritter, called “the most successful military raid of this century”. In a recent article he detailed Israel’s (and its apologists) lies, fabrications and propaganda; many other interviews/articles have also debunked this Israeli false narrative, especially reporters from The Grayzone and Electronic Intifada.
Nonetheless, Canadian corporate media and Canadian politicians on all levels of governments and political parties have rushed to parrot and amplify these manufactured claims. The level of complicity and lack of any critical judgement is shocking, and simply proves the unbreakable alliance between the Zionist state and the over-arching imperialist agenda to control the region and its resources. 

The premier of British Colombia, David Eby, adopted the Zionist narrative from the beginning, with no regards for the Palestinian victims of this settler colonialist movement: 
On Oct. 17, 2023 he was quoted as saying: 
“There can be no justification for the brutality and terror Hamas visited on innocent victims. None…They are advocates for genocide,” Eby said. “Anyone who attempts to contradict this basic truth should rightfully be denounced … But let’s be clear about something else. Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, not in Gaza, not in the West Bank. They don’t represent our Palestinian friends and neighbours living here in British Columbia.” 

 First, Mr. Eby, it is outrageous and unconscionable to accuse people who are supporting Palestinian liberation as “advocates for genocide”, your silence on Israeli genocide is complicity in it. The Palestinian people have been the victims of Israeli GENOCIDE for the past 76 years. 
Second, Hamas and more accurately the Palestinian resistance movement did not engage in “brutality and terror”; it was a military operation to break the chains of their slavery and tormentation. 
Third, yes Hamas does represent the Palestinian people, they were elected by the Palestinian people in 2006 by a larger majority than your NDP government. And NO, Palestinians living here in British Columbia don’t wish to be friends with such an anti-Palestinian racist and bigot. 
Finally, your ignorance in conflating Israeli genocide and atrocities with the Jewish people actually promotes anti-Jewish racism. 

More recently on April 30, Mr. Eby doubled down on his ignorance and was quoted as saying about the April 26 rally speech: “Celebrating the murder, the rape of innocent people attending a music festival, it’s awful,” … “It’s reprehensible, and it shouldn’t take place in British Columbia.” His slanderous accusation of rape is unsubstantiated, similar to the accusation of UNRWA workers participating in the Oct. 7 revolt. How long will we wait for Mr. Eby to publicly condemn and acknowledge the violence (including sexual violence) against Palestinian women and girls that Israeli soldiers continue to enact right now in Gaza? 

If Mr. Eby thinks that his rampage against Palestinian liberation supporters will succeed and put a chill on the Palestinian support movement, he should think again. All he is doing is certifying himself as a committed Zionist and an anti-Palestinian RACIST.
Mr. Eby, we will remember your racism against the Palestinian people next provincial election and beyond.

 
 
 
 

Who crafted Canada’s bogus “terrorist list”? – Canada Palestine Association (cpavancouver.org)

Join us on March 15 to Shut Down Genocide Profiteering at Scotiabank Branches

All out on March 15 for complete divestment! No Genocide Profiteering! Shame on Scotiabank!
We are proud to be part of the global campaign to #ShutElbitDown and hold Israel’s arms industry and its investors accountable for their complicity in war crimes. MARCH 15: SHUT DOWN GENOCIDE PROFITEERING! Shut Down Scotiabank

Let’s keep up the pressure, our grassroots campaign is working. ScotiaBank reduced its Elbit Systems investment in the last quarter, but still stands as the largest foreign investor in this Israeli arms company, profiting off the killing and maiming of Palestinians.

Here is an initial list of Scotiabank branches with actions that you can join on March 15:

Vancouver and BC:

Chinatown – 268 Keefer – 11am
Downtown – Granville & Georgia – 12 Noon
Granville – 12th and Granville – 11:30
Kits – MacDonald & W. Broadway – 2pm
West End – 1669 Davie St – 12 Noon
Commercial Drive – Broadway & Commercial – 11am
Oak & Broadway – 7:30-8:30 am

Burnaby (SFU) – 8972 University High St –  11:00 am
Surrey – Guildford Mall – 3pm
Coquitlam – Coquitlam Centre – 3pm
Port Moody – 2501 St. John’s St – 4pm
North Vancouver – 1357 Lonsdale Ave – 11am

Kamloops – 276 Victoria St – 2pm
Kelowna – 488 Bernard Ave – 12 Noon
Powell River – 7030 Alberni St – 11:30am
Nanaimo – 65 Commercial St – 11am
Victoria – 702 Yates Street, 11am
Courtenay Courthouse – 11:30 am

Prairies: 

Regina – 1901 Hamilton St – 12pm

Ontario:

Toronto – 70 Carlton St. – 12 Noon
Toronto – 19 Bloor St W – 9am
Toronto – 992 Bloor St W – 9am
Toronto – 222 Queen St W – 9am
Peterbourough – 111 Hunter St. W – 11am
St. Catharines – 185 St Paul St, #177 – 10:45 am

Maritimes:

Scotiabank – 780 Main St, Moncton – 12 noon

The End of Settler Colonialism

The connections between indigenous people in Turtle Island and the indigenous people of Palestine run deep. Here on unceded territory in “Vancouver”, the unflinching solidarity from indigenous brothers and sisters has been essential in maintaining support for the five-month (and counting) battle against Israeli genocide and settler colonialism.  

In January of this year, a Liberation Conference was held that focused on and strengthened these bonds. It was a unique and inspiring event, that brought together inter-generational Palestinian and indigenous speakers and artists to share the experiences that unite them. 

Nowhere were the connections between the two struggles more evident than in the recent outrage over the comments and racist history of former BC Cabinet Minister Selina Robinson. Her final Zionist rant about Palestine being “a crappy piece of land” with “nothing on it”…“didn’t produce an economy” struck to the heart of settler colonialism logic. The centuries old traditions and lifestyle of indigenous people constituted “nothing” until settlers came to civilize and develop them. In the case of Palestine, to “make the desert bloom”. 

Robinson has now come full circle with the Zionist mantra, by finally leaving even her party caucus with (guess what!) a charge of “anti-Semitism” against her former colleagues. 

Ironically, Selina Robinson’s comments even included the feeble Zionist attempt of claiming indigenous roots to Palestine. No-one indigenous to a beloved land, no matter what state of “development” it was in, would ever label their home as “a crappy piece of land”. 

Zionists were openly colonialist from the beginning. Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, wrote in his book The Jewish State in 1896: “We should there form a portion of the rampart of Europe against Asia, an outpost of civilization as opposed to barbarism.” 

The Assembly of First Nations, in a resolution in December 2023, has also grasped the obvious. According to media reports: “An emergency resolution advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, which recognizes the Palestinians as an Indigenous People under international law, passed unanimously.” 

By now, any decent peace-loving individual or organization should have recognized that Zionism is a deeply flawed and vicious settler colonialist enterprise. It is way past time for all those who claim to support Palestine to disassociate from this stain on humanity. As Zionism enters its final death throes and inflicts even greater horrors on Palestinian civilians, we know that their end is within sight.  

For years, the chair of Canada Palestine Association has noted that the brutal and arrogant behaviour of the Zionist regime will bring it to a miserable end .. “their end will be ugly”. Based on the inevitable resentment and hatred that Israel, its military forces, and its backers have engendered in the Arab world, compounded a thousand times in the last five months, that sentiment rings truer than ever. This resentment is also evident in many areas of the global South, as multiple leaders in South America, South Africa and beyond have taken clear stands against the naked Israeli aggression. 

Yes, the end of Zionism and its cruel brand of fascism will be ugly. It is a sad comment on the inaction of the leaders of the “international community” that this is now the only possible outcome in the region. 

(by Marion Kawas, cover photo Michael YC Tseng)