(Council of the Socialist International meeting at the United Nations, June 2018)
Message to NDP From the Canadian BDS CoalitionLetter sent to New Democratic Party of Canada from the Canadian BDS Coalition.
This follows the Socialist International the association of 140 global political parties, including 35 parties in government, adoption of BDS and call for a military embargo on Israel until it ends its violations of Palestinian rights.
This is the most significant call for sanctions against Israel to date.
Canadians ask where is the NDP–they no longer are part of Socialist International.
The 2017 EKOS Poll showed 70% of Canadians support sanctions on Israel–this is the time for the NDP to align with the Canadian public as we moved toward 2019 election.
May 13, 2008
Mr. Jagmeet Singh, Leader
M. Mathieu Vick, President
NDP Canada
300-279 Laurier west
Ottawa, ON K1P 5J9
Dear Leader Singh and President Vick:
The Council of the Socialist International, at its meeting in Geneva on June 26-27, issued a call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel and in support of Palestinian rights. The call was for a “total embargo on all forms of military trade and cooperation with Israel.”
The Socialist International is a world-wide organization of 140 social democratic parties.
Their statement reaffirms the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and calls on governments and civil organizations to “activate Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against the Israeli occupation.” It calls for a “total embargo on all forms of military trade and cooperation with Israel as long as it continues its policies of occupation and Apartheid against the people of Palestine.”
In doing this the Socialist International strongly condemns Israeli “racist laws,” and expresses its solidarity with Palestinian citizens of Israel, who “continue to live under a system of institutionalized discrimination.”
This stand by Socialist International is congratulated by the Canadian BDS Coalition and speaks to strength of the global BDS campaign to end Israeli apartheid imposed on the Palestinians. In this regard,Socialist International is moving justice for Palestine toward the South African moment when the world no longer accepted white racist apartheid in South Africa.
The Canadian BDS Coalition urges the New Democratic Party to support the Socialist International call to action. We call on the Federal Council of the NDP to endorse the international BDS campaign and lead a public campaign to support this movement across Canada.
We urge NDP Canada to stand with justice, equity and freedom, and with human rights and international law, by indicating its support for the Socialist International stance. We call on the NDP to support international and domestic law, and show leadership to end Canada’s complicity with illegal acts committed by Israel under the Fourth Geneva Convention. In this regard, we urge the NDP to call for a military embargo and economic sanctions until the Israeli blockade of Gaza is lifted, the occupation end, apartheid laws and systems dismantled and there is acknowledgement of the settler-colonial state’s actions.
In solidarity,
The Canadian BDS Coalition
copy to:
Gary Porter, Executive member, Saanich and the Gulf Islands NDP, British Columbia, Socialist Caucus candidate for Federal Treasurer at NDP Convention 2017.
Barry Weisleder, Chair, NDP Socialist Caucus
Chris Wanamaker, Saint John, New Brunswick
Alan Hicken, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island NDP
Robbie Mahood, Acting President, Mount Royal NDP, Montreal
Lilah Woods, Mount Royal NDP, Montreal
Peter DeGama, President, Etobicoke North NDP, Toronto
John Orrett, President, Thornhill federal NDP, Ontario
Julius Arscott, Executive Board member of the OPSEU, and member Toronto Danforth NDP
Sylvie Biderman, Toronto Danforth NDP
Melvin Zimmerman, Toronto Danforth NDP
Mitchell Shore, Beaches-East York
Elizabeth Byce, University-Rosedale NDP, Toronto
Aha Blume, Hamilton Centre NDP
Dirka Prout, London West, Co-chair Federal Women’s Council
Rosemary Hnatiuk, Winnipeg, Manitoba NDP
Adam Snider, Edmonton-Griesbach, Alberta
Ellen Ramsay, Vancouver, British Columbia NDP
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