March 13, 2005

HARPER GOVERNMENT'S U.N. NO VOTE ON PALESTINIAN RIGHT OF RETURN
GOES AGAINST CANADIAN VALUES

-- PRO-ISRAEL JEWISH LOBBY TOO INFLUENTIAL ON FOREIGN POLICY

The Canadian Islamic Congress has expressed disappointment and concern that the Canadian delegation voted on Friday against the first resolution concerning Palestinian welfare to come before the United Nations since Stephen Harper's Conservative government took office.

A non-binding resolution submitted by South Africa to the UN Economic and Social Council, endorsing the right of all Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes, passed by a vote of 41-2, with only Canada and the United States opposing it.

"Instead of doing the right thing -- voting to bring justice to Palestinian refugees, Canada blindly followed the lead of Washington and of the influential pro-Israel Jewish lobby in both countries. This is a slap in the face to traditional Canadian values," today's CIC statement said.

The Congress is also disappointed that, unlike the previous Liberal government, the Harper Conservatives did not bother to consult with Canadian Arab and Muslim groups before making such a major policy change.

"This sends Canadians the  message that their government no longer cares about the plight of Palestinians in refugee camps, or those displaced and in diaspora all over the world. This makes a mockery of our reputation as a nation concerned with peace and justice. Canada is now on a different path, in which we will be seen as no different from the U.S."

The CIC is calling on all peace-through-justice loving Canadians to voice concern to their MPs about Canada's rapid shift to the extreme right in foreign policy.


CONTACTS:

Dr. Mohamed Elmasry

(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
e-mail: np@canadianislamiccongress.com

Mrs. Wahida Valiante
(905) 771-1023
e-mail: nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com