A ‘determined peace-builder’? Analysing Canada’s role in the Israel-Palestine conflict
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2017 marked 50 years since the beginning of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories. Technically, under various statutes of international law (Article 42 of the 1907 Hague Regulations and Article 2, of the four Geneva Conventions, 1949) temporary military occupation of foreign territory is permissible for self-defence purposes. However, the way Israel has prosecuted its control over Palestinian lands and Palestinian lives is in blatant violation of numerous international norms. While most countries around the world challenge the legality of particular aspects of Israel’s occupation – though not always in its totality – a de facto consensus that accepts the status quo persists. Virtually all major actors in international relations – Canada included – prioritize Israeli claims regarding its security over Palestinian aspirations for independence or self-determination. Yet during the last days of 2016 the conflict appeared to be entering a period of potentially significant turbulence. As a signature to seven major international human rights conventions, Canada’s long-standing perceived international influence related to values of human rights dates back to their role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of human rights in 1947-1948. However, as this paper demonstrates, official statements by the Canadian government, combined with Canada’s voting at the UN on resolutions pertaining to Palestine paint a very different story than that of a ‘determined peacebuilder’ and an even handed advocate for human rights. This paper assesses Canada’s relationship to the conflict and examines whether Canada’s reputation as a peacemaker and human rights advocate are reflected by its record on Israel-Palestine. Ultimately arguing that, in this case, there is little evidence to suggest that this reputation is warranted. In order to dodge the proverbial trap of the hypercritic, this paper concludes with forward-looking analysis and suggesting ways in which Canada may better live up to these models in the future.
Undermining the Democratic Process: The Canadian Government Suppression of Palestinian Development Aid Projects
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Countless Canadians have for decades been trying to provide support to Palestinians living under military occupation in the occupied Palestinian territories. However, they have often faced strong resistance from pro-Israel advocates and elites in Canada, including their own government. This paper looks at the government suppression of Canadian development sector organisations running Palestinian aid projects 2001 to 2012, including from the perspective of the people running them. Based on document analysis, policy analysis and original semi-structured interviews with coordinators running aid projects, it describes how their work was almost universally undermined by the Canadian government. Tactics uncovered include appointing ardent pro-Israel advocates to an organisation's management, defunding specific projects, defunding entire organisations, launching questionable audits, spurious allegations of terrorism and the forced closure of organisations. This oppression was particularly overt under the Harper Conservative government, but had a basis in earlier Liberal governments. This interference provides an understanding for the fear that exists surrounding Palestinian aid work in Canada and the process by which Canadian aid to Palestinians is rendered ineffective. The paper further argues that while these tactics were likely first honed against Palestinian solidarity work, they were then used against other progressive groups, undermining Canadian civil society and democracy.
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