Resolution on Palestine

Whereas Israel targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon is in violation of the Geneva Conventions and constitutes war crimes

Whereas the Canadian Government was complicit in these actions by endorsing Israel's actions as measured and justified and refused to speak out for an immediate ceasefire

Whereas the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip have suffered greatly under Israeli occupation since last year's "unilateral disengagement", virtually kept prisoners in their shrinking territory.

Whereas Israel has repeatedly disregarded resolutions of the United Nations to return the occupied territory to Palestinian control

It is resolved that the Canadian Peace Alliance:

- support efforts to see that Israel is prosecuted for war crimes.
- oppose Israel's multi-billion dollar "security" wall, which is expropriating massive tracts of Palestinian land.
- lobby the Government of Canada and the opposition parties to take a position on the Middle East based on international law and human rights, particularly regarding the plight of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation, calling for
* the restoration of funding for the democratically elected Palestinian Authority.
* the release of all Palestinian and Lebanese political prisoners taken by Israel, including members of parliament, and subsequent release of Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and Hezbollah.
* Removal of the blockades of the Gaza strip.
- urge the Government of Canada to recognize the duly elected Government of Palestine, and to reinstate aid to the Palestinian people; to call for the implementation of UN Resolutions 194 and 242 (which includes the right of return); to call for the dismantlement of the settlements in Palestinian territory; and to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

It is further resolved that the Canadian Peace Alliance encourage its members to:

- discuss the global campaign of divestment from Israel and boycotts of Israeli goods, in particular ending the charitable organization status of the Jewish National Fund of Canada.

The following groups wished their opposition to be noted:

· Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians.
· Jewish People's Order of Canada
· Westmount Initiative for Peace
· B.C. Southern Interior Peace Coalition (group has not discussed it yet)
· Canadian Labour Congress
· Derrick O'Keefe, Stopwar.ca
· ECAWAR (delegate not sure on position)


Adopted - November 2006

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