Canadian Action Party Support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions  
Mar 15, 2007 at 07:09 PM

PRESS RELEASE March 2007
CANADIAN ACTION PARTY FIRST CANADIAN POLITICAL PARTY TO OFFICIALLY SUPPORT AN INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL APARTHEID-LIKE PRACTICES

Canadian Action Party/Parti action canadienne members endorse a call to boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel's apartheid-like practices against the Palestinian people. The July, 2005 call to boycott has gained worldwide momentum from trade unions, political parties, cultural, academic and church groups, Jewish peace and human rights groups, businesses, and individuals. A motion in respect of this support was tabled at the party's convention in September, 2006 in order to become more familiar with the issue. With an extremely high percentage of positive feedback received, it has now been officially approved.

Canadian Action Party/Parti action canadienne supports international and humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CAP/PAC believes that Israel must demolish the separation or "Apartheid" wall which is encroaching Palestinian land and making daily life impossible for Palestinians. Israel must compensate those injured by the wall to date, must cease its brutal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and must comply with the precepts of international law, including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. Further, Palestinian Arabs living within Israel's borders are treated worse than second-class citizens. CAP/PAC believes the peace that Israel so desires will never be possible until there is justice for Palestine and Palestinian refugees.

CAP/PAC also recognizes the parallels between Israel and Canada in that a pre-existing population has been pushed aside. We also support an honest look at Canada's own human rights record regarding our First Nations. CAP/PAC acknowledges Canadian participation in the occupation through the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement and the Ontario-Israel Memorandum of Understanding and commits to abrogate these agreements until Israel ceases its apartheid-like practices against Palestinians.

The Canadian government has added to Palestinian suffering by being one of the first countries to cut off critical aid to Palestine to punish it for democratically electing a Hamas government one year ago. An article in The Jerusalem Post, February 4, 2007, reported that the Canadian government announced that it would establish an "Israel Allies Caucus" to "mobilize support for the State of Israel and promote Judeo-Christian values amid a groundswell of Christian support for Israel around the world." An almost identical caucus was established in the U.S. approximately 6 months ago. However, there was no trace of this announcement in the mainstream media in Canada. In response The Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians commented: "This move is just another sign of the Harper government's complete contempt for the Canadian public." It is not in the interest of most Canadians, and certainly not in the interest of most Jews."

Contact Wendy Forrest , chair of policy forrwen@gmail.comVersion