CPA statement on the Bias of N.S. Human Rights Commission

Canada Palestine Association sent a letter last month to Christine Hanson,
CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (NSHRC), enquiring about the reasons behind its rescinding “of the Human Rights Award presented to Rana Zaman”. To date, the NSHRC have chosen not to answer nor even acknowledge our letter.

We are left to conclude that the reason for their arbitrary and cruel action to rescind their award to Ms. Zaman was because of her principled position in defending Palestinian rights. It is worth noting that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the main pro-Israel lobby group, commended them on taking this decision.

If the commission thinks that they are fighting anti-Semitism by taking this position, then they are totally misguided. In fact, by conflating Israeli war crimes with the Jewish people, they are spreading anti-Semitism and helping the anti-Semites. We suggest they carefully read the rational position of Independent Jewish Voices Canada, demanding the reinstatement of the award.

We would like to point out to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission that Human Rights is a universal concept that does not exclude any people. Only supremacists, racists, settler colonialists and their supporters refuse to recognize this fact.

The commission’s call to “all Nova Scotians to consider how they can help to promote human rights, inclusiveness and dignity in their communities” rings hollow.

Those who pretend to defend human rights but exclude Palestinian rights, are not genuine in promoting human rights. Palestinians demand and deserve the same rights as all other peoples; according them anything less only serves to enable the continuing war crimes and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.

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Following is our letter that was sent on Dec. 22, 2019, to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.

Christine Hanson
CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

Dear Ms. Hanson:

We were baffled and shocked to hear that “The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission has formally rescinded the Human Rights Award presented to Rana Zaman”.

Your news release (the link to it does not work anymore) states that “The committee was unaware of public statements made by Ms. Zaman that were directly contrary to the principles of the award.”

You owe it to the Canadian public to clearly state what public statements you are referring to, and clarify how they are “directly contrary to the principles of the award.”

It is cruel and unfair to Ms. Zaman to rescind her award without consulting with her. Is it due to her criticism of Israel’s human rights abuses and war crimes? CIJA indicated in one of its tweets that this was the case.

We call on you to please explain your position clearly and in detail. You owe this to the Canadian Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities and to the Canadian public, including all advocates of human rights. And above all, you owe this to Rana Zaman, whom you have now placed in an extremely precarious situation and exposed to social media backlash and bullying.

We will await your response before issuing a statement by year-end.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Hanna Kawas
Chairperson, Canada Palestine Association-Vancouver.

CPA 2019, Year in Review

Canada Palestine Association, since its founding over forty years ago, has always relied on its members and supporters to carry out all aspects of the Palestinian solidarity work. 2019 was a busy year for CPA activism, we are grateful to all those who supported our work concretely and made this year a success on the road to the liberation of Palestine. 
Following are highlights of our work:

Events and Campaigns:

  1. Boycott HP, Mark Int’l Day of Solidarity with Palestinians
    (December 7, 2019)
    YouTube video of the event
    Facebook video
  2. #RaptorsDontGo Campaign Declares Victory
    (October 23, 2019)
  3. Resisting Attacks on Palestinian Rights (Oct. 2, 2019)
    Video of the event
  4. I Vote Palestine #IVotePalestine campaign
    On September 19, 2019, CPA along with 20 other organizations launched #IVotePalestine campaign for the Canadian federal election and asked the main parties nine questions; only the NDP answered and we documented the Liberal party stands through their answers to the B’nai Brith.
  5. Nakba71 – The Palestinian Narrative (May 18, 2019)
    Video of highlights from the meeting.
  6. Boycott Israeli Wines Picket, Mark Nakba71 (May 18, 2019)
    Facebook event.
  7. Picket the Vancouver JNF Gala – April 14, 2019
    Facebook Event
  8. Book launch: “Culture and Resistance” by Edward Said and David Barsamian (February 23, 2019)
    Videos of the event.
    Video of CPA Chairperson’s presentation
  9. 20 Years of Vancouver Protests Demanding #StoptheJNF
    (January 15, 2019)
    Check out our new video documenting 20 years of Vancouver activists coming out to protest the Jewish National Fund and its pivotal role in dispossessing the Palestinian people.

CPA Statements:

  1. Canada Wants to Be an ‘Asset of Israel’ at the UNSC
    December 30, 2019
  2. Canada’s Vote at UN 2019
    December 28, 2019
  3. What is behind Canada’s “orphan vote” at the UN?
    By: Marion Kawas, Dec. 18, 2019
  4. Anti-Palestinian Racism is rampant in aftermath of York Student Protest!
    December 15, 2019
  5. Media Complicity in Demonizing Palestinians
    November 28, 2019
  6. Jerusalem Post admits to printing false info about York University protest
    By: Marion Kawas, November 27, 2019
  7. Tell PM Justin Trudeau: Stop slandering Palestinian students!
    November 24, 2019
  8. Canada’s Anti-Palestinian Racism Evident at the UN
    October 9, 2019
  9. Canada’s Betrayal of the Palestinian Refugees
    By Canada Palestine Association chairperson, Hanna Kawas
    September 22, 2019
  10. Canada’s Shameful Record on Palestinian Refugees
    September 20, 2019
  11. Is Cuba normalizing settler colonialism in Palestine?
    After the visit of the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) delegation to Cuba in early July, CPA was forced to release a letter sent to Cuban officials on Jan. 3, 2018 regarding our concerns about the “Expanding Cuba-Israel Relations” July 15, 2019
  12. IHRA Definition is an Assault on the Palestinian Community
    A letter to Vancouver Mayor and city Councillors by Canada Palestine Association chairperson, Hanna Kawas July 18, 2019
  13. Open Letter to Toronto Raptors
    By Coordinator, BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish Territories, Aiyanas Ormond, June 15, 2019
  14. Anti-Zionism: Cornerstone of Palestine Solidarity
    February 13, 2019
  15. Hey Justin Trudeau, Canadians Do Support BDS!
    By Marion Kawas, 27 January 2019

Interviews:

SpiceRadioVan
Interview with Hanna Kawas Dec. 24, 2019: Christmas for Palestinian Christians under occupation.
SpiceRadioVan
Interview with Hanna Kawas Nov 26, 2019 about Canada’s support to a UN resolution criticizing Israel.

CKUT 90.3FM Under the Olive Tree (ckut.ca)
Interview with Hanna Kawas Dec. 19, 2019: Does Canada defend human rights at the UN?
CKUT 90.3FM Under the Olive Tree (ckut.ca)
Interview with Hanna Kawas: How to bring Palestine-solidarity into Canadian federal elections? Oct. 10, 2019

Articles:

CPA Facebook pages:
BDS Vancouver – Coast Salish Territories
Stop G4S in Canada – Boycott and Divest from G4S
Boycott Israeli Wines – Don’t Drink with Apartheid
Boycott TEVA – Apartheid is BAD Medicine
https://www.facebook.com/cpavancouver.org/

CPA Facebook groups:
Voice of Palestine صوت فلسطين
Canada Palestine Association
Air Canada: We are not On-Board with Human Rights Violations

Follow us on Twitter:
BDS Vancouver
Hanna Kawas

Canada Wants to Be ‘Asset for Israel’ at the UNSC

By Hanna Kawas

Canada Palestine Association has compiled a study of Canada’s 2019 voting record at the United Nations on resolutions that document and censure Israeli violations of international law.

There was much fanfare made about Canada’s orphan “yes” vote at the UN General Assembly this year on “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” resolution. But in the broader context of the other 17 resolutions calling out Israel’s war crimes, that Canada either voted against (15) or abstained on (2), this lone vote can only be seen as deceptive and hypocritical.

Justin Trudeau, explaining his government’s vote to Canadian Zionists, stated:

“The government felt that it was important to reiterate its commitment to a two-states-for-two-peoples solution at a time when its prospects appear increasingly under threat”.

However, if the Trudeau government was really committed to a “two-states-for-two-peoples solution”, it is inconceivable that at the same time they also voted against:

  1. A resolution to support the work of the “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People” that affirms the UN “has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects”;
  2. The “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine” resolution that calls “on Member States not to recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regards to Jerusalem”;
  3. “The Syrian Golan” resolution that “Demands once more that Israel withdraw from all the occupied Syrian Golan to the line of 4 June 1967 in implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions”;
  4. “Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources” resolution;
  5. The resolution that condemns the “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan” and reaffirms the “inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force”; and
  6. The resolution concerning “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” that expresses “grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel”.

And finally, why would Canada vote against a resolution to uphold the rights of “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities”, unless it supports Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the West Bank and the “Greater Israel Project”?!

Some observers have speculated that Canada’s lone vote was motivated by Trudeau’s desire to obtain a seat on the UN Security Council. Over a year ago, then Foreign and now Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland was quoted as follows during a visit to Israel:

“She also mentioned Canada’s current bid for one of 10 non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council for 2021-2022, which she hoped would allow Canada to serve as an ‘asset for Israel and… strengthen our collaboration’.”

So, this is what Canada plans to do if it gets sufficient votes for a seat, be an “asset for Israel”?

Canada is relying on the votes, and possible lobbying, of some Arab reactionary regimes to get the backing required for the Security Council seat; one example is Jordan.

Just last month during a visit, “Jordan’s King Abdullah II told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Middle Eastern kingdom supports Canada’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council”. This was according to Jordan’s ambassador to Canada, Majed Alqatarneh, who also said Jordan “believes it is important that Canada have a seat on the Security Council”.

Canada also seems to be counting on the support of certain diplomatic circles from the US; former U.S. ambassador to Ottawa, Bruce Heyman stated:

“For me, today, when the U.N. General Assembly is all together, a Canadian seat on the U.N. Security Council is more important than ever”.

We tell Mr. Trudeau that instead of your objective of getting a seat at the UN Security Council, you may end up with a seat in front of the ICC. If the “two-states-for-two-peoples solution…prospects appear increasingly under threat”, it is because of Canada’s (and others) unconditional support for Israeli occupation, war crimes, and apartheid.

Published by The Palestine Chronicle

Canada’s Vote at UN 2019

In addition to Canada’s orphan “yes” vote at the UN General Assembly this year on “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” resolution, Canada voted against (15) or abstained on (2) resolutions calling out Israel’s occupation, war crimes and human rights violations.
The lone vote can only be seen as deceptive and hypocritical.

(The UN resolutions database is not fully updated; if needed, please click on the link on “Canada” under any resolution and go to “committee report” for further info.)

  1. A/RES/74/10 Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 92 in favour to 13 against including Canada, with 61 abstentions.
  2. A/RES/74/11 Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine 147 in favour to 7 against including Canada, with 13 abstentions.
  3. A/RES/74/12 Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat 87 in favour to 23 against including Canada, with 54 abstentions
  4. A/RES/74/13 Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat 144 in favour to 8 against including Canada, with 14 abstentions.
  5. A/RES/74/14 The Syrian Golan 91 in favour to 9 against including Canada, with 65 abstentions.
  6. A/RES/74/75 The risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East 152 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, United States), with 24 abstentions.
  7. A/RES/74/83 Assistance to Palestine refugees 169 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 9 abstentions (Cameroon, Canada, Guatemala, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Vanuatu).
  8. A/RES/74/84 Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities 162 votes in favour to 7 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, United States), with 11 abstentions.
  9. A/RES/74/85 Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East  167 votes in favour to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 7 abstentions (Australia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Guatemala, Nauru, Rwanda, Vanuatu).
  10. A/RES/74/86 Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues 163 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, United States), with 12 abstentions.
  11. A/RES/74/87 Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories 81 in favour to 13 against including Canada, with 80 abstentions.
  12. A/RES/74/88 Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan 157 in favour to 7 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, United States), with 15 abstentions.
  13. A/RES/74/89 Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem 157 in favour to 9 against (Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, United States), with 13 abstentions.
  14. A/RES/74/90 The occupied Syrian Golan 157 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 20 abstentions including Canada. GA/12228
  15. A/RES/74/137  “A global call for concrete action for the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and the comprehensive implementation of and follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action” 135 in favour to 9 against (Czech Republic, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, United Kingdom, United States), with 43 abstentions
  16. A/RES/74/139 The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination 167 in favour including Canada to 5 against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru and the US) with 11 abstentions.
  17. A/RES/74/208 Oil slick on Lebanese shores 162 in favour to 7 against including Canada, with 7 abstentions.
  18. A/RES/74/243 Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources 160 in favour to 6 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, United States), with 15 abstentions.

What is behind Canada’s “orphan vote” at the UN?

by Marion Kawas

Last month, the Canadian government changed its vote at the United Nations Third Committee on a resolution entitled “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”, from a “no” vote to a “yes”. That vote was maintained today at the UN General Assembly when it came up for final ratification. However, this single yes vote, or “orphan vote”, is just one of the 20 votes that Canada casts on resolutions regarding Israeli violations of human rights and international law, and support for Palestinians. On all other votes, Canada so far has stuck to its decade-old tradition of steadfast support for Israel at the UN by either voting against or abstaining on these resolutions.

If the Trudeau government really believed in the resolution they just voted “yes” on, why has this not translated into a change on at least some of their other votes as well? Why have they insisted on altering only this vote and going out of their way to assure the Zionist lobby that nothing else will change? Is it political opportunism, and if so, what are the motives?

There has been a lot of speculation that Canada is doing this to try and gain a seat on the UN Security Council in 2020. That analysis does fit with the hype that accompanied the initial vote change, that presented it as something significant and worthy of extended media coverage. Even though it was just a single vote and it was also made abundantly clear from the beginning that no other votes would change. But if it is a Security Council seat that is in play here, who are the advisers or other international players that have assured the Trudeau government that changing just this one vote will suffice? That this will be enough to garner support of sufficient members of the UN when the time comes? That the stink of hypocrisy that floats over changing only this one vote and absolutely no others will be brushed aside?

Along with the Security Council seat, other analysts have suggested the influence of being in a minority government as a factor. And the highlighting of the hypocrisy of the Liberals during the recent election on this issue of their UN voting record by the #IVotePalestine campaign may also have struck a nerve.

It may well be a combination of all of the above and even more that has not yet come to light.

All we can say for sure is that Canada changed one vote, and nothing else. Not only has the overall voting record at the UN remained identical, but Trudeau’s statements on other issues, like the recent protest at York University, have been the predictable regurgitation of the Zionist narrative.

It is important, however, to recognize that the Canadian government can stand up to the Israel lobby when it so wishes and when it suits its interests. It’s just that this behaviour, on the rare occasions that it occurs, is not and has never been predicated on any concern for Palestinian human rights or aspirations, but rather on purely imperial and self-centred motives.

We are left with only one conclusion – that Canada has not changed its policy on Palestine. Period. Although all of us in the solidarity movement are desperate for, and would be uplifted by, a genuine and serious change in Canada’s relentless anti-Palestinian tirade, this is not it.

It is flawed to claim that something is a good step in the right direction, unless it actually is followed by other similar steps on the same path. Otherwise it is simply a one-off exception, and activists need to understand why it is happening and what is the agenda. Liberal politicians in Canada are well-known for playing with the rights and demands of the Palestinian people, and this would not be the first time that such crass opportunism has happened.

Whether Trudeau is desperate for the legacy of the Security Council seat, or is using the tragedy of what the Palestinians suffer on a daily basis to prove he can stand up to Trump, or is trying to cement his standing in the midst of a shaky minority government, it is unconscionable to use the Palestinian people and their over 70 years of dispossession as pawns in his personal chess game. And that is not something for which he deserves any praise.

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