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| National Council on Canada Arab Relations - Letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Bernier
January 14, 2008 Dear Minister Bernier, The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) notes with great concern that your recent statement about Har Homa being “contrary to the peace process” falls far short of Canada 's foreign policy regarding the Occupied Territories . Your department's website articulates Canada 's position, stating that, "[a]s referred to in UN Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The settlements also constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace." As this quote illustrates, new settlements are not merely "contrary to the peace process," they are in fact illegal. Your failure to uphold Canada 's well-established policy on such a crucial point is both disappointing and worrisome; it can only lead one to assume that your comments were motivated not by Canada 's commitment to international law, reflecting long-held Canadian values, but by a continued move toward partisanship and unreasoning support of Israel 's most extreme positions. It would have been beneficial to the peace process, had you indicated that all Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank are illegal and a serious impediment to lasting peace in the region. We also question your need to justify to an Israeli audience Canada's pledge of aid to the Palestinians as being "beneficial to Israel," since part of it is earmarked for educational programs "to help combat hatred and incitement" against Israel, and to condition this aid to "demonstrable progress in negotiations by both sides,” thus potentially penalising Palestinians for Israeli decisions in the negotiations. It will be beneficial to Israel to arrive at a comprehensive, just and lasting peace with Palestinians, that respects their need for human security and freedom from the daily aggression of an occupation. Minister, your statements suggest that the government may have two different policies: one for the benefit of concerned Canadians interested in justice and for people in the region with whom Canadians may wish to do business; and another for Israeli media and hard-line members of the pro-Israel Canadian communities. If Canadian policy has indeed changed, as is implied by your declaration on Har Homa, we suggest that you make the necessary modifications on your website to clarify the “new” Canadian policy and announce this in Parliament. Your parliamentary colleagues and the Canadian public would then be able to judge you on your shift away from international law. Of course, we do not believe that such a policy “flip” is in Canada 's interest as it would signal that you have abandoned the rule of law and embraced superior force and violence for conflict resolution. It is not in Canada 's interest to align its policies on Israel with countries such as the Federated States of Micronesia , the Marshall Islands , and Palau . Canada can be true and strong friend to Israel by reminding Israel of its international obligations as an occupier, and encouraging it to take meaningful steps to achieving peace with the Palestinians. Therefore, we respectfully request that you state clearly that Har Homa and all other Israeli settlements are, under international law, illegal. Thank You. Bahija Réghaï President/Présidente |