[Canadian-BDS-Coalition] Independent Jewish Voices calls on Green Party of Canada to stand for justice for Palestinians
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- Published on Friday, 05 August 2016 10:00
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From: Tyler Levitan <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
r51 [Canadian-BDS-Coalition] Independent Jewish Voices calls on Green Party of Canada to stand for justice for Palestinians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2016
Independent Jewish Voices calls on Green Party of Canada to stand for justice for Palestinians
OTTAWA— “We applaud the Green Party of Canada for having the courage to engage in open debate about issues relating to Palestinians’ human rights,” declared Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) spokesperson Tyler Levitan, speaking in the run-up to the Green Party convention in Ottawa.
“The importance of this debate can be gauged by the outrageous smear tactics that are being deployed against the Green Party—as well as against IJV—by pro-Israel lobby groups like B’nai Brith Canada, which... are determined to quash any such discussion.”
“IJV has made a standing offer to pro-Israel lobby groups, including B’nai Brith Canada, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), and the Jewish National Fund (JNF), inviting them to participate in public debate on these vitally important issues. But all of them continue to refuse to engage. It is clear that they have no interest in any form of political debate,” Levitan explained.
“The JNF practises institutional discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel, and has played a key role in the dispossession of Palestinians for decades, acquiring thousands of acres of land expropriated from Palestinian refugees. It continues green-washing Israel’s crimes by covering over forcibly depopulated and demolished Palestinian villages with forests and parks, including ‘Canada Park’, situated in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Yet, it enjoys charitable status in Canada,” he said. “This is one of the issues to be debated at the Green Party convention.”
“It is our hope that Green Party members will vote with their conscience on their resolution to support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and stand on the right side of history, taking their place alongside prominent public figures like Stephen Hawking, Alice Walker, Desmond Tutu, and countless others who are heeding the non-violent call from Palestinian civil society for BDS,” continued Levitan.
“These resolutions reflect the values of Green Party members and ordinary Canadians, who oppose discrimination, regardless of where it is practiced,” Levitan concluded.
For more information, please contact:
Tyler Levitan, spokesperson for Independent Jewish Voices Canada
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 613-371-8508
For more information about B’nai Brith Canada’s smear campaign against IJV, please click here.
For more information about B’nai Brith Canada’s history of using smear tactics to silence criticism of Israel, please click here.
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Tyler LevitanCampaigns Coordinator / Coordonnateur des campagnes Independent Jewish Voices Canada / Voix juives indépendantes Canada 613-371-8508This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. --
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