The Green Party of Canada strongly condemns the ongoing Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians resulting in burning of homes, cars, and the killing of innocent civilians as well comments for these criminal acts by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Green Party leader Elizabeth May and deputy leader Jonathan Pedneault demand that the federal government denounce these attacks and statements in the strongest possible terms.
In the past week, over 400 Jewish Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian villages of Huwara, Zaatara, Burin, and Asira al-Qibliya. Three days after the attack on Huwara, Minister Smotrich called on the village to be “wiped out.” Israeli forces are now assaulting Jewish Israelis protestors, including a former Knesset Speaker.
“It is unacceptable that Canada has refused to join a broad coalition of countries condemning the attacks, including Germany, France, Ireland, and the UK,“ said May. “We urge the government of Canada and the Prime Minister to condemn Israeli Minister Smotrich’s incitements of state-sponsored violence against Palestinian villages, and call on Israel to end all settlement activity in Palestinian territories.”
“Extremist Israeli settlers have for years attacked Palestinians in their homes, often with impunity,” said Pedneault. “Israel’s recent decision to approve another 7,000 illegal settler units in the occupied Palestinian territories, in flagrant violation of international law, is likely to provoke further violence.”
The federal government’s meek reaction to this crisis does not align with Canadian values or international law. Greens demand action from the federal government to address this humanitarian crisis, end funding of illegal settlements, and join the international to protect the human rights of Palestinians. The Government of Canada should actively press our Israeli friends and allies to dismantle the architecture of oppression established in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
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For more information or to arrange an interview :
Fabrice Lachance Nové
Press secretary