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7 February, 2007
by JJP
ACJC condemns creation of
pro-Israel caucus
In a communique issued yesterday, the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians, a national umbrella organization of progressive Jewish groups and individuals, has condemned the creation of a parliamentary "Israel Allies Caucus" by the Harper Conservative government.
The establishment of the new pro-Israel lobby will be officially announced in Ottawa on Tuesday in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canadian and Israeli parliamentarians, including MK Benny Elon (National Union-National Religious Party) MK Orit Noked (Labor) and MK Ran
Cohen (Meretz), as well as members of the Canadian-Israel Friendship League.
"This move is just another sign of the Harper government’s complete contempt for the Canadian public," said Jason Kunin. "It is not in the interest of most Canadians, and certainly not in the interest of most Jews."
Indeed, a recent Globe and Mail Strategic Counsel poll, showed an overwhelming majority of Canadians — 77 percent — favoured a neutral foreign policy in the Middle East, and a plurality of Canadians — 45 percent — disagreed with the Harper government’s favouring of Israel. In Québec, 61 percent disagreed with Canada’s recent foreign policy tilt towards Israel. Jewish interests both in Israel and Canada are best served by peace and the Canadian government throws away its opportunity to be part of any peace process when it portrays itself as a pro-Israel lobbyist on the international scene."
"The creation of this caucus will only further discredit Canada in the eyes of the international community," Jason Kunin insists. "It means condoning a brutal forty-year occupation of Palestinian civilians. It means condoning the illegal wall that is imprisoning them in enclosed ghettos. It means
condoning the seizure of their land and water, the strangulation of their economy, and the daily military assaults against innocent civilians and makes life in the occupied territories a living hell."
The ACJC believes it speaks for most Canadians, and for most Jews, in calling for a return to diplomacy and peacemaking. Many of the Israeli policies that would be uncritically supported by the creation of this new pro-Israel caucus are not even supported by many Israelis.
The ACJC calls for the Canadian government to demand the dismantling of Israel’s illegal "security wall," the end to military occupation of Palestinian lands, and a just resolution of the Palestinian refugee crisis.
"Canada should support international law, period" said Jason Kunin.
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