August 21, 2024
Protestors rally and march in Los Angeles, California, US on March 2, 202
4 [David McNew/Getty Images]
Canada has declined to comment on a planned US sale of Canadian-made weapons to Israel, following criticism from rights groups who argue that the arms contribute to Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians.
In a statement to Al Jazeera yesterday, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson said the government “will not speculate on a possible Foreign Military Sale by the United States.”
The statement also noted that since 8 January, Canada has not approved any new arms export permits to Israel, and this policy remains in place.
Earlier this year, Canada announced it would not issue new export permits for weapons to Israel in response to widespread protests over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 40,200 Palestinians over nearly 11 months.
However, rights groups pointed out that Canada has not revoked existing arms export permits and that the ban does not cover Canadian weapons or components that are first sent to the US before being shipped to Israel. These transfers are challenging to monitor due to a long-standing trade agreement that facilitates the exchange of military goods between the US and Canada.
Last week, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) revealed that a Quebec-based company, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., is set to be the primary contractor for a potential $61.1 million deal to supply munitions to Israel.
According to the DSCA, the company is expected to deliver tens of thousands of “M933A1 120mm High Explosive Mortar Cartridges and related equipment,” with shipments scheduled to begin in 2026.
Michael Bueckert, vice president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, criticised the Canadian government for potentially allowing the shipment. He told Al Jazeera that Canada’s credibility would be undermined if it permits such transfers while claiming to halt arms exports.
He said: “If Canada is going to knowingly allow weapons to be transferred to Israel while it claims to be stopping this sort of thing, it just destroys their entire credibility.”
Doing so in an area where there are prevalent allegations of “genocide”, he continued, “shows that they’re more interested in public relations than taking action to prevent complicity in genocide.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims also urged the Canadian government to block the transfer. “Any decision otherwise would render the Government’s earlier weapon permits ban to become moot,” its CEO, Stephen Brown, said in a statement yesterday.
More than ten months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Canada has declined to comment on a planned US sale of Canadian-made weapons to Israel, following criticism from rights groups who argue that the arms contribute to Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians.
In a statement to Al Jazeera yesterday, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson said the government “will not speculate on a possible Foreign Military Sale by the United States.”
The statement also noted that since 8 January, Canada has not approved any new arms export permits to Israel, and this policy remains in place.
Earlier this year, Canada announced it would not issue new export permits for weapons to Israel in response to widespread protests over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 40,200 Palestinians over nearly 11 months.
However, rights groups pointed out that Canada has not revoked existing arms export permits and that the ban does not cover Canadian weapons or components that are first sent to the US before being shipped to Israel. These transfers are challenging to monitor due to a long-standing trade agreement that facilitates the exchange of military goods between the US and Canada.
Last week, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) revealed that a Quebec-based company, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., is set to be the primary contractor for a potential $61.1 million deal to supply munitions to Israel.
According to the DSCA, the company is expected to deliver tens of thousands of “M933A1 120mm High Explosive Mortar Cartridges and related equipment,” with shipments scheduled to begin in 2026.
Michael Bueckert, vice president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, criticised the Canadian government for potentially allowing the shipment. He told Al Jazeera that Canada’s credibility would be undermined if it permits such transfers while claiming to halt arms exports.
He said: “If Canada is going to knowingly allow weapons to be transferred to Israel while it claims to be stopping this sort of thing, it just destroys their entire credibility.”
Doing so in an area where there are prevalent allegations of “genocide”, he continued, “shows that they’re more interested in public relations than taking action to prevent complicity in genocide.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims also urged the Canadian government to block the transfer. “Any decision otherwise would render the Government’s earlier weapon permits ban to become moot,” its CEO, Stephen Brown, said in a statement yesterday.
More than ten months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
No comments:
Post a Comment