Action
Advancing Canada’s Role as a Peacebuilder in Israel-Palestine
An urgent call to action from Canada Friends of Standing Together
Standing Together Movement is a progressive grassroots movement organizing Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel against the occupation and for peace, equality, and social justice.
Canada Friends of Standing Together (C-FoST) is an emerging group of Canadians committed to using our collective resources to support Standing Together’s mission in Palestine-Israel. As a diverse group of Canadian Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians and allies, C-FoST members are drawn together by our belief in Standing Together’s mission and the urgency of activating fundamental change in Israel-Palestine.
C-FoST is focused on amplifying and providing practical support for the work of the Standing Together Movement in Palestine-Israel. We believe the shared struggle towards an equal future between Palestinians and Jews living in the land is an irreplaceable element of democratic transformation in the region.
We also believe in the essential role of the international community. C-FoST therefore calls on the Canadian government and Canadian politicians to advance the following priorities:
A. Take urgent diplomatic action to:
- Permanently end the war on Palestinians in Gaza as promised in Canada’s Joint Statements with the UK and France and with 26 International Partners by supporting a complete ceasefire agreement.
- Ensure the release of all Israeli hostages, and the release of all Palestinians detained and held in “administrative detention” without charge.
- Allow real humanitarian aid (food, shelter, medical necessities) through UN mechanisms, end the use of food and starvation as a weapon against Palestinians, and support the reconstruction of Gaza for Palestinians.
- Immediately end the Israeli government’s ethnic cleansing agenda, settler violence and vigilantism against Palestinians and any efforts to establish and/or re-establish Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza by revoking the charitable status of organizations that fund, promote or support Israeli settlements, sanctioning settler organizations and their leadership, and banning imports from settlements.
- Reinstate an improved program that will remove barriers to provide temporary residency for Gazans with family in Canada (process the 3000+ pending applications, eliminate discriminatory barriers like biometrics, and help stranded refugees as was done for Ukraine).
B. Provide long-term support for peace and equality, not war.
- Work with international partners to end the Israeli government’s military actions in Lebanon, Syria and Iran — bombing will NOT bring security.
- Recognize an independent Palestinian state to advance the process toward a genuine and permanent peace agreement that upholds the rights and aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis; ensuring freedom, dignity, and self-determination for all who share the land.
- Continue the RCMP’s investigation into the Israel-Hamas War under Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act and confirm Canada’s formal support for investigations of such crimes by the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
- Expand sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich imposed by Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK to include the full range of ministers and government entities responsible for the ongoing atrocities.
- Invest in civil society peacebuilding efforts in both Palestine and Israel in alignment with commitments made by the G7 in June 2024.
- Extend and strengthen the suspension of Canadian arms sales to all parties including all weapons, components, and any that may be shipped through third parties, and suspend importation of Israeli arms until a permanent peace agreement has been reached.
- Use Canada’s voice to support and amplify the work of pro-peace movements in Israel-Palestine.
- Form an All Party Parliamentary Group for Israeli-Palestinian Peace comprised of Canadian MPs and Senators to advance the shared interests of Palestinians, Israelis, and Canadians in a permanent peace agreement.
C. Support solidarity and partnership in our own society.
- Build solidarity between local communities with ethnic, social and religious ties to Palestine-Israel by funding reconciliation and bridge-building efforts.
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Condemn antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, and bigotry of all types. Categorically oppose hate speech and political violence but do not acquiesce to misplaced claims or definitions of antisemitism that serve to stifle pro-Palestinian movements and individuals.
The above statement is issued by Canadian citizens and residents who are members of Canada Friends of Standing Together (C-FoST).
FoST Montreal
FoST Ottawa
FoST Toronto
FoST London
FoST Manitoba
FoST Vancouver
FoST Kootenays