My letter to Prime Minister Carney

Thank-you for your joint statement together with the leaders of France and Great Britain on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.

I am grateful for your strong words condemning the egregious actions of the Israeli government in Gaza, where the UN says 14,000 babies are at risk of imminent death. 

Thank-you, too for calling out members of the Israeli government for their abhorrent language threatening the Palestinian people with forced displacement. Ethnic cleansing, as we all know, is in violation of international humanitarian law, as are the illegal settlements in the West Bank. 

In your statement you speak of taking concrete actions, “if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid” as well as put a halt to the illegal settlements. 

Prime Minister, the time for action is now. I applaud your “elbows up” stance against the impunity of the state of Israel. It is time to go beyond words and postures to consequential actions. We not only need sanctions and the suspension of Canada’s trade deal with Israel. We need an iron clad two-way arms ban, clear recognition that the illegal settlements are war crimes and recognition of Palestinian statehood. 

Canada, France and Great Britain have drawn a line in the sand and said no to the horrors playing out in Gaza. I implore you to take meaningful actions if that line continues to be crossed. 

I call upon you as a person of faith and goodwill to intervene to help bring an end to the brutal occupation so a just peace can begin.

Rev. Vida Jaugelis