Action
Advancing Canada’s Role as a Peacebuilder in Israel-Palestine
An urgent call to action from Canada Friends of Standing Together
Standing Together Movement is a progressive grassroots movement organizing Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel against the occupation and for peace, equality, and social justice.
Canada Friends of Standing Together Canada (C-FoST) is a growing group of Canadians committed to supporting Standing Together’s mission in Palestine-Israel. As a diverse group of Canadian Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians and allies, C-FoST members are drawn together by our shared belief in a future of equality, dignity, security and self determination for Palestinians and Jews, AND our conviction that this is the only way to achieve true peace on the land.
With a ceasefire declared (but not enforced), the international community has a responsibility and an opportunity to work with peace builders in Israel-Palestine, and globally, to fully end the genocidal war against Palestinians, prevent further brutal attacks against Israelis, and marginalize all of the war mongers. It will require global persistence to achieve the only just solution – a permanent Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
C-FoST therefore calls on the Canadian government and Canadian politicians to take action as follows:
1. Contribute to the urgent flow of humanitarian aid and reconstruction of Gaza.
2. Support the people of Gaza as they establish a transitional administrative government that engages with Palestinian civil society to create effective, accountable, democratic and independent governance for themselves that is committed to international law, peace, justice, security and self determination for both peoples.
3. Ensure that the international oversight body is truly temporary and leads to an independent Palestinian State, as already recognized by Canada and key international partners, on which the peace and security of both peoples depends.
4. Pressure the Israeli government to end its ethnic cleansing agenda, settler violence and vigilantism against Palestinians and any efforts to establish and/or re-establish Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza by:
(a) revoking the charitable status of Canadian organizations that support settlements, (b) sanctioning settler organizations,
(c) banning imports, investments and business engagements involving settlements, (d) expanding current sanctions to include the full range of ministers and government entities that support the ongoing occupation,
(e) promoting Israeli leadership committed to international law, peace, justice, security and self determination for both peoples; and
(f) continuing all of these measures until Israel enters a clear path to the creation of a Palestinian State.
5. Extend and strengthen the suspension of all Canadian military sales to all parties (i.e., eliminate loopholes) and suspend importation of Israeli military goods and related technology, for a full, two-way arms embargo until a permanent peace agreement is reached.
6. Invest in civil society peacebuilding efforts in both Palestine and Israel in alignment with commitments made by the G7 in June 2024.
7. Form an All Party Parliamentary Group for Israeli-Palestinian Peace comprised of Canadian MPs and Senators to advance the shared interests of Palestinians, Israelis, and Canadians by implementing the measures above.
C-FOST also calls on the Canadian government and Canadian politicians to support solidarity and partnership in our own society as follows:
1. Condemn antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, and all forms of bigotry. Oppose hate speech and political violence but do not allow misplaced claims or definitions of antisemitism to criminalize legitimate expression. Instead, promote empathy and understanding among affected communities by funding depolarization and bridge-building efforts.
2. Reinstate an improved program that will remove barriers to provide temporary residency for Gazans who have been accepted for study and/or have family in Canada (facilitate biometric services in Gaza, provide aid to stranded refugees who are eligible to come to Canada but delayed by logistics of war and Canada’s screening requirements, and process all outstanding applications on an urgent basis).
The above statement is issued by Canadian citizens and residents who are members of Canada Friends of Standing Together (C-FoST).
FoST Montreal
FoST Ottawa
FoST Toronto
FoST London
FoST Manitoba
FoST Vancouver
FoST Kootenays