#IVotePalestine – Canada Palestine Association

Those Complicit in Genocide will be held Accountable!

#IVotePalestine 2025

As the federal election goes into final week frenzy, here is the wrap-up report for our campaign demanding to know if politicians stand for justice or for genocide. The paucity of progressive and principled clarity in this election cycle was appalling. We sent our questionnaire to all the major parties for their official response and were not surprised that most refused to answer. We were asking multiple tough questions about Zionism, genocide, the sham “terrorist list” and accountability – issues most politicians in Canada are not willing to touch. The noticeable exception was the Communist Party who did send an encouraging response that we highlighted in our third release.

We should mention the recent position of the NDP, especially in the debates where their leader Jagmeet Singh emphasized that the word genocide must be used to describe what is happening in Gaza. As Yves Engler pointed out: “...the electoral calculation has finally become clear to him and the party. Better late than never and everyone campaigning against genocide deserve praise.”

We remain skeptical of the NDP’s intentions, and question if their new-found “passion for Palestine” will continue (although we fervently wish it would). In 2019, the NDP sent positive answers to the first #IVotePalestine campaign, and then two months later, Jagmeet Singh proceeded to backtrack in a roundtable with CIJA.

We stated in the introduction to our 2025 questionnaire:

“We do not believe that any single election in Canada will substantially change policy on Palestine, but we do see the educational value in bringing these issues to the public and highlighting the overwhelming Canadian complicity in genocide. Yes, go to candidates in your riding and raise these crucial points, but also stay focused on organizing in our communities, on grassroots activism and on stepping up direct action campaigns going forward.”

On March 21, 2025, even before the election was called, we noted: “Engaging in electoral politics must not mean advocating for watered-down compromised demands. Make our demands count…for Palestine, for return, for liberation.
From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

Full info here: Demand to know where politicians stand – for justice or for genocide! – Canada Palestine Association

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”?
Do you pledge to consult with Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and human rights organizations such as BCCLA when discussing city policies relating to race relations and racism, and to combat all forms of racism?

No I don’t support this position. I signed up to speak against motion and as co-founder of Coalition Against Bigotry-Pacific and Community Bases Anti-Hate task force, I publically campaigned against it. But the motion was referred to committee. I’m very concerned that it might come back to council.
I consider Arabs as semitic people and the whole notion of antisemitism excluding Arabs as zionist propaganda. I oppose any form of anti-Jewish bigotry and I oppose any notion that anti-Zionism equates to anti-semitism as pure Zionist propaganda.

2. Vancouver Police complicity in Israeli apartheid:

A. On July 8, 2018, Vancouver police chief Adam Palmer hosted Israeli police Major General Avshalom Peled, commander of the Border Police Unit 33 and called him an “insightful leader“. Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), Vancouver called Mr. Peled “notorious for violent suppression of an entire population through widespread human rights violations including extrajudicial killings.”

B. On June 19, 2019, a representative of the Zionist organization, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), addressed the Vancouver Police Board where he called on them to “formally adopt the IHRA definition…and to ask relevant units of the VPD to make use of it as a tool”.

There is a growing movement across North America to scrutinize and hold police forces to account. In praising visiting Israeli war criminals and giving a platform for local pro-Israel advocates, the Vancouver Police have been complicit in legitimizing Israeli war crimes and promoting anti-Palestinian racism. We expect better!

Do you support calling on the Vancouver Police to stop exchanges with Israeli police officials and units, and to educate themselves on anti-Palestinian racism and its implications in their relations with the community?

Yes, the VPD should not be taking these political partisan positions. They are supposed to protect citizens which they are also failing to do so.

3. Israeli Apartheid:

International human rights organizations Amnesty International(AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), and the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, have established that Israel is an apartheid state that practices institutional racism in all of the territories under its control “from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea”.
Please check out Amnesty International’s Aug. 15, 2022 post: “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Report & Resources” and Desmond Tutu’s opinion: Israel guilty of apartheid in treatment of Palestinians.

Would you be willing to work towards declaring the city of Vancouver and its institutions as apartheid free zones?

Yes, very much so.

4. Jewish National Fund (JNF):

The Jewish National Fund(JNF) practices blatant and well-documented discrimination against Palestinians, as it does not lease nor sell any of the properties under its control in Israel to non-Jews, including Palestinian Israeli citizens. Further, a 2019 CBC report revealed that JNF Canada had solicited donations and issued charitable tax receipts for funds to go directly to the Israeli military and to illegal settlements in the occupied territories.
Israeli scholar Uri Davis stated in his comprehensive writings that “Central to the Israeli legal apartheid system is the Jewish National Fund (JNF)”.

Regrettably, the City of Vancouver historically has been complicit in supporting this blatant discrimination through the actions of successive mayors and councillors. This included Mayors who attended JNF fund raising dinners such as Mike Harcourt, Philip Owen, and Larry Campbell to Gordon Campbell who sent greetings to a JNF gala, to the mayoral candidate and city councillor Jim Green who proudly hung a JNF donation certificate at his Vancouver City Hall office.

Do you agree that it is unconscionable and inappropriate for City of Vancouver officials to support or promote an organization that is openly racist and discriminates against an indigenous population, in this case the Palestinians?

Yes indeed.

Response from Jean Swanson & COPE

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 pledge to consult with Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and human rights organizations such as BCCLA when discussing city policies relating to race relations and racism, and to combat all forms of racism?

Yes, COPE’s city councillor Jean Swanson played a key role in side-lining the flawed IHRA motion by educating other councillors that Vancouver residents would be better served by adopting a broad definition of racism that included anti-semitism and so supported seeking wider consultation and advice within the city and with Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and human rights organizations.

2. Vancouver Police complicity in Israeli apartheid:

A. On July 8, 2018, Vancouver police chief Adam Palmer hosted Israeli police Major General Avshalom Peled, commander of the Border Police Unit 33 and called him an “insightful leader“. Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), Vancouver called Mr. Peled “notorious for violent suppression of an entire population through widespread human rights violations including extrajudicial killings.”
B. On June 19, 2019, a representative of the Zionist organization, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), addressed the Vancouver Police Board where he called on them to “formally adopt the IHRA definition…and to ask relevant units of the VPD to make use of it as a tool”.

There is a growing movement across North America to scrutinize and hold police forces to account. In praising visiting Israeli war criminals and giving a platform for local pro-Israel advocates, the Vancouver Police have been complicit in legitimizing Israeli war crimes and promoting anti-Palestinian racism. We expect better!
Do you support calling on the Vancouver Police to stop exchanges with Israeli police officials and units, and to educate themselves on anti-Palestinian racism and its implications in their relations with the community?

COPE is concerned that Canadian police could become more militarized under the influence of Israel’s approach to controlling people. In the U.S., police forces have become heavily militarized, partly as a result of their extensive contacts with Israeli police and military, including travelling to Israel to attend training sessions. COPE is categorically opposed to exchanges of all kinds with Israeli police officials, especially involving training our police.

Please check out Amnesty International’s Aug. 15, 2022 post: “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Report & Resources” and Desmond Tutu’s opinion: Israel guilty of apartheid in treatment of Palestinians.

Would you be willing to work towards declaring the city of Vancouver and its institutions as apartheid free zones?

COPE will work towards declaring the City of Vancouver and its institutions as apartheid free zones. We recognize that this will require substantial work to meaningfully address the city’s role in perpetuating systemic racism, in supporting apartheid in Israel, and in upholding the apartheid perpetrated against Indigenous people by Canada in the territories that Canada occupies.

4. Jewish National Fund (JNF):

The Jewish National Fund(JNF) practices blatant and well-documented discrimination against Palestinians, as it does not lease nor sell any of the properties under its control in Israel to non-Jews, including Palestinian Israeli citizens. Further, a 2019 CBC report revealed that JNF Canada had solicited donations and issued charitable tax receipts for funds to go directly to the Israeli military and to illegal settlements in the occupied territories.
Israeli scholar Uri Davis stated in his comprehensive writings that “Central to the Israeli legal apartheid system is the Jewish National Fund (JNF)”.

Regrettably, the City of Vancouver historically has been complicit in supporting this blatant discrimination through the actions of successive mayors and councillors. This included Mayors who attended JNF fund raising dinners such as Mike Harcourt, Philip Owen, and Larry Campbell to Gordon Campbell who sent greetings to a JNF gala, to the mayoral candidate and city councillor Jim Green who proudly hung a JNF donation certificate at his Vancouver City Hall office.

Yes. COPE is opposed to any City of Vancouver officials supporting or promoting the JNF. Elected officials and candidates running for office today are more aware and more fully informed of this opposition to the JNF, a group that is openly racist and plays a crucial role in maintaining Israel’s illegal apartheid system.

Response from Christine Boyle, OneCity Vancouver

1. No IHRA at Vancouver city council:

It is our deeply held belief that the best way to combat hate and violence is by building solidarity across difference. As a result OneCity Councillor Christine Boyle made a motion at council to refer the IRHA definition of anti-semitism to a city advisory committee that could discuss and debate a nuanced and meaningful response to the rise in racist acts we’re seeing across the city, against all sorts of minority communities (including the Jewish community) who deserve a safe city where their livelihoods are not subject to threat and discrimination. As Cllr Boyle has said, “It is my view that criticism of Israeli policies should not be equated with anti-Semitism, and therefore I disagree with the IRHA definition.”

OneCity pledges to continue to consult Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and Jewish communities, along with various human rights organizations when discussing city policies relating to racism.

Further, we believe the global struggle against racism is fundamentally connected to the struggle for climate justice, as it is well-documented that racialized communities face deeper and more extreme climate impacts. Cllr Boyle has led the City’s Climate Emergency work. And OneCity candidates will continue to lead on this and other issues that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

2. Vancouver Police complicity in Israeli apartheid:

A. On July 8, 2018, Vancouver police chief Adam Palmer hosted Israeli police Major General Avshalom Peled, commander of the Border Police Unit 33 and called him an “insightful leader“. Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), Vancouver called Mr. Peled “notorious for violent suppression of an entire population through widespread human rights violations including extrajudicial killings.”

We emplore all city officials, including the VPD, to educate themselves on anti-racism issues, including anti-Palestinian racism and Islamaphobia. As always, the more we learn about each other, the more we’re able to work together and build stronger, healthier communities. We would like to be better informed before commenting on Vancouver Police exchanges with Israeli police.

3. Israeli Apartheid:

International human rights organizations Amnesty International(AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), and the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, have established that Israel is an apartheid state that practices institutional racism in all of the territories under its control “from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea”.

Would you be willing to work towards declaring the city of Vancouver and its institutions as apartheid free zones?

We look forward to hearing debate on this issue.

4. Jewish National Fund (JNF):

The Jewish National Fund(JNF) practices blatant and well-documented discrimination against Palestinians, as it does not lease nor sell any of the properties under its control in Israel to non-Jews, including Palestinian Israeli citizens. Further, a 2019 CBC report revealed that JNF Canada had solicited donations and issued charitable tax receipts for funds to go directly to the Israeli military and to illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

Israeli scholar Uri Davis stated in his comprehensive writings that “Central to the Israeli legal apartheid system is the Jewish National Fund (JNF)”.

Regrettably, the City of Vancouver historically has been complicit in supporting this blatant discrimination through the actions of successive mayors and councillors. This included Mayors who attended JNF fund raising dinners such as Mike Harcourt, Philip Owen, and Larry Campbell to Gordon Campbell who sent greetings to a JNF gala, to the mayoral candidate and city councillor Jim Green who proudly hung a JNF donation certificate at his Vancouver City Hall office.

We have no intention of supporting the work of the JNF in our capacity as elected leaders or in any other capacity.