Canada Calls on Israel to Adhere to International Law; United Church Urges Canada to Follow Suit
On July 26, 2024, the Government of Canada issued a joint statement with Australia and New Zealand. It echoes some of The United Church of Canada’s recent justice requests. The joint statement:
- calls for an urgent ceasefire
- names the situation as catastrophic and unacceptable
- commits to working towards a just and enduring peace, and
- makes several statements upholding the primacy of international law.
It also names settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law and calls on Israel to adhere to the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.
We acknowledge these important and necessary steps.
We also ask Canada not to stop there.
Palestinian and Israeli partners are clear: the prerequisite for lasting peace is justice, requiring an immediate and permanent end to the occupation and for states like Canada to use every measure available to pressure Israel to end its unlawful occupation.
We also again draw the government’s attention to the calls we articulated in our July 23, 2024, letter to Minister Joly. These include the need to cooperate with the United Nations to support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and the obligations on Canada itself that stem from the ICJ ruling.
Specifically, we draw Canada’s attention to the need to distinguish in its dealings with Israel between the State of Israel and the territories illegally occupied by Israel, and the obligation to not aid or assist in maintaining Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Canada must not just call on Israel to take action—it also needs to take steps itself to fully respond to the ICJ advisory opinion.
At a minimum, a comprehensive arms embargo must be implemented and implications specific actions for on broader trade and diplomatic relations must be explored.