Basis of Unity

The following is the Basis of Unity for the Canadian BDS Coalition.

The Canadian BDS Coalition is composed of pro-Palestine solidarity groups across Canada and works independently in support of boycott, divestment and sanctions activities against Israel, within the Canadian context, addressing local challenges and concerns. The Coalition is not affiliated with the BDS National Committee (BNC).

The Coalition:

A. Endorses the Palestinian Civil Society Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).
These non-violent punitive measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.

B. Regardless of its national and/or geographic location, any company, organization or institution that is empowering Israeli settler colonization, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, apartheid is complicit in them, and accordingly is subject to the economic, academic, and cultural boycott call.

C. Due to the direct US involvement in Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people by sending troops, military equipment and also shielding Israel from accountability for its war crimes, we call for a general economic boycott against the US, where attainable and possible.  We also call for a similar boycott against countries that are complicit in this genocide, especially Britain, Germany and Canada. 

D.  We believe in the universality of human rights, and that the injustices that befell the Palestinian people should be rectified.

E. We recognize that Zionism is a supremacist ideology which has created a settler colonial state in historic Palestine. We support the establishment of a secular democratic State of Palestine in the historic land of Palestine with equality before the law for all citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender.