HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PALESTINIANS

For an International Support Worker it is of value to become acquainted with the role that the Palestinian issue plays in Canadian politics. After all, the "NO" to the funding of Kairos and the withdrawal of funding from other NGOs has been linked to government response to positions taken on this issue. With that thought in mind, I was happy to accept a friend's invitation to attend a presentation and discussion on Palestinian human rights.

Our group of family and friends attended the event held at the Taric Islamic Centre in North York this past Sunday evening. The panel members were the founding figures of "The Canadian Inter-Faith and Inter-Cultural Alliance for Palestinian Human Rights." The brochure describing the alliance advertised the participating groups as being "Muslim Unity," "Independent Jewish Voices," the "Canadian Arab Federation" and the "Holy Land Awareness and Action Task Group, South West Presbytery, United Church of Canada."

I am familiar with inter-faith events hosted in Christian churches and community settings.  In a different kind of experience for me -- this presentation and discussion was hosted by the Muslim community in the hall of the mosque. The presentations began a little after 7 p.m. and had to be halted for the sunset prayer at around 8 p.m. The Muslim participants went away for 10 minutes and returned looking refreshed and cheerful.

In the second half of the meeting I got an opportunity to ask a question to the panel. I inserted a short preamble leading up to my question. I explained that I had read that there has been a shift in the way Canada is being perceived on the international stage. Whereas in past Canada had been thought of as more or less an "honest broker," the Canadian government at present was considered strictly aligned with Israel -- "an attack on Israel is an attack on Canada." I had read that the perception that Canada was aligned with Israel had contributed to Canada losing a vote in the General Assembly of the UN and subsequently not gaining a seat on the Security Council.

My question was: What advantage does Canada gain from being perceived as aligned strictly with Israel on issues that might arise? Would it not be preferable to evaluate events on the facts presented?

One panelist saw this policy pattern as pleasing some Christian evangelicals, the religious right who were hoping that the extension and strengthening of Israel would lead to Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ. For another panelist it had to do with economic benefits and security ties. Military hardware and security expertise and police training were being exchanged and bonds had been built that put Canada fully in line with Israel.

I continue to be puzzled. Surely, an extreme Christian view does not dominate in Canadian Government? As well, would it really pay economically to offend African and North African states with which Canada has a higher volume of trade?

United Church panelists and my father-in-law's voice from the participants invited all present to read and to inform others concerning a powerful document -- the "Kairos Palestine Document" available from http://www.kairospalestine.ps/sites/default/Documents/English.pdf.

I have my reading to do.

Addendum: Two paragraphs from a Canadian Catholic bishop, Pierre Morissette, President of the CCCB, to Stephen Harper March 29, 2010, summarize the approach of the Canadian bishops to Israelis and Palestinians and the impact of current security restrictions:

"Dear Prime Minister:


It is the policy of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops to insist on full respect for the rights and hopes of both Israelis and Palestinians, to do all that is possible to encourage efforts for justice and peace throughout the Middle East, and to be mindful that the issues involved in the Holy Land are of vital importance for Jews and Muslims as well as for Christians – including those who for centuries have lived in what is today Israel and the Palestinian Territories, as well as the members of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths around the world.

While fully respecting and endorsing the right and need of Israeli citizens to be able to live in security, our Conference is also aware that there are many people in the Middle East growing increasingly frustrated, impatient and even hostile because of various security measures imposed by the State of Israel. Thus ironically, today’s efforts to improve security may have the unintended but inevitable effect of spawning future insecurity."