Urging Federal Government to Reject Naftali Bennett Visit to Canada: Demanding Accountability for War Crimes Against Palestinians
June 13th, 2023
Justice For All Canada strongly protests the upcoming visit of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to Canada for a speaking engagement on June 14, 2023. Bennett's involvement in expanding illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international law. “With this upcoming visit, Canada is in an ideal position to question Bennett about his apartheid policies and hold him accountable for war crimes against the Palestinian people,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Bennett served as Israel’s Prime Minister from June 2021 and June 2022 in a coalition government. During his tenure, he made voluntary and significant contributions to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, which directly violate Canadian law.
Justice For All Canada stands in solidarity with Canadian NGOs, including Palestinian and Jewish Unity, Just Peace Advocates, and the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, who have submitted a court file urging Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino, to deny Bennett entry into Canada.
The filing highlights Bennett’s war crimes, which violate sections 6(1)(c) and 6(1.1) of Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. This pertains to voluntary and significant contributions to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Golan Heights. The filings also assert that Minister Mendicino must exercise his authority to declare Bennett inadmissible to Canada under sections 35(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration Refugee Protection Act.
According to Canadian law, transferring parts of an occupying power's civilian population into occupied territory is explicitly designated as a war crime. Bennett's involvement in the expansion of Israeli settlements violates international law and undermines the rights and well-being of Palestinian children, who have suffered from the consequences of occupation for decades.
A recent statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned that Canada "strongly opposes the expansion of settlements." It is then critical for the Canadian government to uphold its commitment to international law and apply accountability upon foreign nationals, regardless of their political affiliation or background.
The Canadian government will risk condoning and normalizing war crimes if it welcomes Naftali Bennett to Canada with open arms this week. This would also send a concerning message that Canada prioritizes political interests over human rights and justice. Justice For All Canada firmly believes that accountability for war crimes and the pursuit of justice are fundamental to peace and stability for Palestinian communities plagued by human rights abuses perpetrated by Israel’s apartheid government.
Justice For All Canada strongly protests the upcoming visit of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to Canada for a speaking engagement on June 14, 2023. Bennett's involvement in expanding illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international law. “With this upcoming visit, Canada is in an ideal position to question Bennett about his apartheid policies and hold him accountable for war crimes against the Palestinian people,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director.
Bennett served as Israel’s Prime Minister from June 2021 and June 2022 in a coalition government. During his tenure, he made voluntary and significant contributions to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, which directly violate Canadian law.
Justice For All Canada stands in solidarity with Canadian NGOs, including Palestinian and Jewish Unity, Just Peace Advocates, and the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, who have submitted a court file urging Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino, to deny Bennett entry into Canada.
The filing highlights Bennett’s war crimes, which violate sections 6(1)(c) and 6(1.1) of Canada's Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. This pertains to voluntary and significant contributions to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Golan Heights. The filings also assert that Minister Mendicino must exercise his authority to declare Bennett inadmissible to Canada under sections 35(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration Refugee Protection Act.
According to Canadian law, transferring parts of an occupying power's civilian population into occupied territory is explicitly designated as a war crime. Bennett's involvement in the expansion of Israeli settlements violates international law and undermines the rights and well-being of Palestinian children, who have suffered from the consequences of occupation for decades.
A recent statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned that Canada "strongly opposes the expansion of settlements." It is then critical for the Canadian government to uphold its commitment to international law and apply accountability upon foreign nationals, regardless of their political affiliation or background.
The Canadian government will risk condoning and normalizing war crimes if it welcomes Naftali Bennett to Canada with open arms this week. This would also send a concerning message that Canada prioritizes political interests over human rights and justice. Justice For All Canada firmly believes that accountability for war crimes and the pursuit of justice are fundamental to peace and stability for Palestinian communities plagued by human rights abuses perpetrated by Israel’s apartheid government.