91% of Green Party of Canada members gave mandate for BDS call
The Green Party of Canada (GPC ) approved policy supports the Palestinian civil society call. In particular, it supports all three objectives of the BDS Movement: the right of Palestinian refugees to return; full equality of rights for Palestinians, and an end to the illegal settlements and the occupation of Palestine. The GPC policy also specifies all three tactics of boycott, divestment and sanction, specifically government sanctions, consumer boycotts, institutional divestment, economic sanctions and arms embargoes. in fact it calls for specific types of sanctions to be imposed upon Israel, namely, an arms embargo and a ban on the importation into Canada of products from Israel’s illegal settlements. See wording below or HERE
Beyond BDS the GPC policy also calls for the Government of Canada to ask the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prioritize its investigation into charges of potential war crimes by members of the Israeli forces.
This policy was adopted at a GPC special meeting held in Calgary in December 2016 with the support of 84% of the members g. A month later, it was ratified by 91% of Green Party members who voted in an online vote.
Green Party Ignores Its Own Policy in Words and Action
However, when asked about the policy regarding Palestine during the last days of the federal election, Section 5.10 of the Green Party Vision was provided. This is not available from the GPC website. This does NOT reflect the approved GPC of policy. In fact it misses the demands of the BDS movement and the tactics of boycott, divestment, and sanctions. (See wording below) SHAME on GPC Leader Elizabeth May. See more in article by DImitri Lascaris HERE
This is not so surprising, as Ms. May has distanced herself from the approved policy, and has not taken steps to live out the policy in parliament even in regard to Resolution 2234 which was passed by the United Nations Security Council on December 23, 2016, just after the GPC policy had been approved.
The election is over–and we expect the GPC elected members to support their own policy
Now past the election, and with three seats in the federal parliament, we call leader Elizabeth May to do the right thing–to post the approved policy and start to live it out in parliament. We know Paul Manly supports the approved GPC policy, and we call on first time elected Jenica Atwin of Fredericton to speak and act based on the policy approved by the GPC membership.
Action:
Send email to Elizabeth May, Paul Manley and Jenica Atwin. Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca, Paul.Manly@parl.gc.ca, jenica.atwin@parl.gc.ca asking them 1) to include the approved policy on the GPC website, 2) if they individually support this policy, and 3) to put this policy in place proactively. As a start this would include their support of Gaza2020 a call by Al-Haq and Just Peace Advocates to put sanctions in place until the Israeli government at least lifts the blockade for the Palestinian people in Gaza. It would also include providing clear statements to the current liberal government on expectations to vote in line with Palestinian human rights and international law at the United Nations. (see ABC UNSC--Anybody But Canada for UNSC)
The approved Green Party policy.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada (GPC) calls on the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people and the State of Israel to accord mutually recognized statehood.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada denounces violence in all of its forms, recognizes that it can only lead to failure in conflict resolution, and supports only non-violent responses to violence and oppression, including economic measures such as government sanctions, consumer boycotts, institutional divestment, economic sanctions and arms embargoes; and
BE IT RESOLVED the GPC calls on the Government of Israel to: respect the intent of UN Resolution 194, the implementation of which is to be negotiated in good faith with the legitimate representatives of the Palestinians, accord to the Arab-Palestinian population of Israel equal political and civil rights, and end Israel’s illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the Golan Heights, and Israel’s siege of Gaza;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada reconfirms its policy of condemning illegal settlement construction in the OPT, and calls for an immediate end to further settlement construction and expansion, and the dismantling of current settlements in the OPT, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The Green Party of Canada calls on the government of Canada take strong diplomatic action, including economic pressure, in order to ensure the attainment of the three objectives identified in the preceding paragraph and to encourage Israel to enter into good faith negotiations with legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people for the purpose of establishing a viable, contiguous and truly sovereign Palestinian state. Such economic pressure should include, but not be limited to:
- A ban on the importation into Canada of products produced wholly or partly within or by illegal Israeli settlements, or by Israeli businesses directly benefiting from the illegal occupation;
- Renegotiation of the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) such that it explicitly excludes products produced wholly or partly within or by illegal Israeli settlements, or by Israeli businesses operating within the OPT;
- The strengthening of CIFTA compliance/audit provisions in such ways and clauses as to ensure that imported products labeled “Made in Israel” are actually produced, entirely and exclusively, within Israel’s internationally recognized borders;
- The termination and indefinite suspension of all military and surveillance trade and cooperation between, on the one hand, the Government of Canada and Canadian corporations or residents of Canada and, on the other hand, the State of Israel, Israeli corporations or residents of Israel’s illegal settlements;
- The repeal the House of Commons resolution condemning the BDS movement (Vote #14, 42nd Parliament, 1st Session; 22 February 2016.)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada calls on the Government of Canada to assess the investments it has under its control and to divest from any companies which are directly benefiting from activity within Israel’s illegal settlements or its occupation of the OPT; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GPC calls on the Government of Canada to warn of the legal consequences of trade and investment in the illegal settlements;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada, and if elected, a Green government, as part of a policy on ethical purchases, will not purchase or use products produced by companies which are profiting from activity within Israel’s illegal settlements or its occupation of the OPT; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada calls on the Canadian Government to recognize the State of Palestine, and, should Canada gain a seat on the UN Security Council, the Green Party of Canada calls on the Canadian Government to pursue aggressively all possible diplomatic pressure on Israel, as well as on the United States to use its massive military aid to Israel as a lever to push for peace; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada calls on the Government of Canada to ask the International Criminal Court to prioritize its investigation into charges of potential war crimes by members of the Israeli forces, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that; Policy G16-P006-A Palestinian Self-Determination and the Movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions as voted on at the August 2016 BGM be repealed and replaced by this policy.
The Policy the GPC indicated in their 2019 Vision
5.10 The Israel – Palestine Conflict
The conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is often viewed as intractable and irresolvable. More than three regional wars and two Intifadas have left deep scars on the bodies and in the minds of the people of this troubled region. Strongly held views and historical claims are well entrenched on both sides, making this a complex and crucial conflict to understand. It is an unfortunate and continued source of tension for many in the Middle East and around the world.
It should be clear that continued support and use of military or insurgency strategies will not bring about an end to the conflict. The cycle of violence, loss of life, and desecration of human rights must come to an end. The Green Party of Canada believes that any effort aimed only at one side in this conflict will not end the violent responses that exacerbate human suffering. Canada’s role in the Middle East should be to reduce tensions, find working solutions, and uphold international humanitarian law, not to take sides in this chronic conflict. We must work towards a mutually acceptable compromise that will achieve a lasting peace between, and among, the Israelis and Palestinians. The Green Party supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict that addresses the security, economic, and religious concerns of the both sides. Diplomatic efforts to build constructive relationships between the two communities are required. Continued dialogue will build community support for the negotiated peace agreement, and will ease implementation and ensure that it does not break down from pressures within the Palestinian and Israeli communities.
Green Party MPs will:
- Endorse the recognition of a Palestinian right to statehood within the internationally recognized borders as described in United Nations Security Council Resolution 242, and support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict that adheres to pre-1967 borders and incorporates an international plan for stimulating economic prosperity in both nations;
- Call on both sides to immediately stop the killing of civilians and adhere to international law;
- Protect as inviolable the right of the State of Israel to exist, in the absence of fear and conflict;
- Encourage the Canadian government to press for a mutually agreed-upon honest broker to engage in bi-literal and multi-lateral peace talks involving Palestinians and Israelis;
- Call on Arab countries to use their influence to broker an agreement between Hamas and the Palestinian National Authority to facilitate the promotion of peace amongst the competing Palestinian interests;
- Call for an end to the collective siege of Gaza so that medical and humanitarian aid can be provided;
- Call on Israel to stop expansion and the building of illegal settlements beyond the 1967 borders;
- Accurately label products so that consumers can differentiate between products of Israel and those of disputed areas;
- Amend the Canada-Israel Free Trade pact to allow for product differentiation;
- Actively support the efforts of civil society groups working for peace, human rights, and justice in the region.