ACTION ALERT: SIGN THIS LETTER CALLING ON CANADA TO DENOUNCE THE BANNING AND RAIDING OF PROMINENT PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

Last year, the Israeli government declared six Palestinian civil society groups supported by the international community as terrorist organizations, prompting international outcry. 

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which partners with the NGOs, echoed criticisms raised around the world that the designations listed “extremely vague or irrelevant reasons, including entirely peaceful and legitimate activities”. 

Our allies did not keep silent. Numerous elected officials in the United States and in Europe – too numerous to fully name – strongly indicated their anger and dismay over this decision by the Israeli government. Yet Canada did not do the same.  

Now, Israeli forces have unlawfully raided the offices of these six Palestinian civil society groups. Their offices were damaged, their property confiscated, and their doors shut. The U.S. has already expressed concern over the raids, while the U.N. has described the move as ‘arbitrary’. Canada has remained silent.

The time is now for our government to condemn this assault on peaceful civil society organizations, and to join its international partners in rejecting Israel’s erroneous ‘terrorist’ designation of six Palestinian civil society groups.