Canada Palestine Association

Following is a statement from the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) on the harassment and repression campaign against pro Palestinian human rights organizations and activists in Canada.

Our petition on line, O Canada or O Israel??, has over 560 signatures, please consider signing it at http://www.petitiononline.com/hkawas1/petition.html

Palestinian civil society condemns repression in Canada against Palestine solidarity campaigns and humanitarian efforts

Occupied Palestine, May 26 2010 – The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), strongly condemns the actions taken by Canadian state bodies, university administrations and pressure groups to defund, repress and otherwise attempt to weaken groups and individuals that provide assistance to, or campaign in solidarity with, Palestinians.… Read more

By Hanna Kawas
RE: Whose Interests are you Serving?
The following open response was sent to Manitoba MLA Heather Stefanson on April 14, 2010, answering her form email sent to those concerned about her motion “Denouncing Israeli Apartheid Week.”

Open Response to Manitoba MLA Heather Stefanson:

I just received the email, sent on your behalf, regarding the “debate” you say you are interested in having in the Manitoba Legislature.… Read more

By Hanna Kawas. The following message was sent on April 12, 2010 to Manitoba MLA’s regarding a motion condemning Israeli Apartheid Week, to be debated on Thursday Apr. 15th, 2010.

Dear MLA:

It has come to our attention that a private members motion is expected to be introduced in the Manitoba Legislature later this week. This motion will reportedly call for censoring a student activity on campuses called Israel Apartheid Week, and is an attempt to use political office to stifle legitimate debate and criticism of Israeli government policies.… Read more

By Hanna Kawas.

Let Palestinian Christians Worship this Easter with No Apartheid Passes

I have followed with dismay the role you played, perhaps unwittingly, in the destructive Ontario Legislature motion on Feb. 25, 2010 regarding Israeli Apartheid Week. You were quoted in The Star as saying that the word apartheid is “inflammatory” and ”used inappropriately in the case of Israel”, and that “Apartheid does not help the discussion”.… Read more

By Hanna Kawas. The following letter was sent to Ontario MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill), in response to his reply to O Canada or O Israel?

Open Reply to Mr. Shurman, Ontario MPP

I appreciate your courtesy in answering my letter “Is It O Canada or O Israel?”, but I am baffled by your response and your logic. If you are truly concerned for your constituents, you will not hide the truth from them.… Read more

By Hanna Kawas. The following open letter was sent to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario MPPs under the title: Is It “O Canada” or “O Israel”?.

Open Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty and Ontario MPPs

We learned with concern about the unanimous passing of a motion in the Ontario legislature (30/107 MPPs in attendance) introduced by Progressive Conservative MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill) on Feb.… Read more

From a Bethlehemite

Successive Canadian governments have supported the Zionist project, the creation and maintenance of the state of Israel, and the accompanying military expansion and trampling of Palestinian human and national rights. In 1947 Canadian representatives played a major role in formulating and passing the UN Partition Plan for Palestine [Resolution 181 (II)]. Lester B. Pearson, then the Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs, was instrumental in ensuring the passage of the Partition Resolution and Supreme Court of Canada Justice, Ivan C.… Read more