Canadian peace research group Project Ploughshares says statements by Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly about arms exports to Israel are misleading, and remarks by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are “patently false.”
Trudeau told Parliament on February 14, 2024, that no export permits have been issued for Canadian arms transfers to Israel since October 7, 2023, the day Hamas killed over a thousand Israelis and took several hundred hostages in a cross-border surprise attack.
This is incorrect, says Ploughshares. Documents recently released by Global Affairs Canada show that Canadian officials authorized nearly $30 million in military goods to Israel since October 7, 2023.
“The relevant question is whether Canada has authorized the export of controlled military goods to Israel – and it has.”
Foreign Minister Joly has argued military exports to Israel have been “non-lethal” and not “full weapons systems.”
However, according to Project Ploughshares, no category exists under Canada’s export control regime for “non-lethal” arms exports.
“The relevant question is whether Canada has authorized the export of controlled military goods to Israel – and it has.”
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian Canadians who have lost family and friends in Gaza under Israeli attacks is suing Foreign Affairs Minister Joly to block exports of military goods and technology to Israel.
The Toronto Star says the group is arguing the Trudeau government is in breach of Canada’s domestic and international legal obligations by exporting weapons to Israel, where it’s likely they can be used in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has killed thousands of civilians.
“We need to cut off Canada’s contributions to the bombardment and starvation of Gaza. It is also important for Palestinians and Palestinian-Canadians to be a part of this case,” a spokesperson for the group said in a statement to the Star. “They are the ones suffering.”
The court case was launched when groups received no reply to their open letter, as reported by PeaceQuest last month.
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Oscars get anti-nuke message from Hollywood stars
The Washington-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a non-profit think tank, launched #MakeNukesHistory billboards and other outdoor advertising throughout Los Angeles in the lead-up to the celebrated film Oppenheimer’s big moment at the Academy Awards this week.
The campaign includes an open letter signed by various celebrities and activists, including Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen, Emma Thompson, Ellen Burstyn and Lily Tomlin, and recording artists such as Annie Lennox, Graham Nash and Jackson Browne. Others include PBS children’s science television host Bill Nye, “The Science Guy” and Oppenheimer’s grandson, Charles Oppenheimer.
PeaceQuest readers agree Putin will win if Western aid to Ukraine stops
Two weeks ago, I invited PeaceQuest readers to answer three questions about the future of the war in Ukraine and then compare their answers to national poll results found by Spark Advocacy.
Considering the responses of 73 people I received, generally, readers line up with the views of most Canadians – except for one question:
Over three-quarters of PeaceQuest readers (78%) agreed with the statement, “If Western countries cut back their support for Ukraine, Putin will win.” The Spark Advocacy national poll found more than two-thirds (69%) predicted Putin would win if Western allies backed away. Larger majorities of Liberal (75%) and NDP (73%) voters believed this, compared to Conservative voters (66%).
Three in five readers (65%) said, “Canada should care about and do whatever we can to support our allies against Russian aggression.” The national poll found that two-thirds (69%) also believed Canada must back its allies.
Finally, this question showed the most significant difference between PeaceQuest readers and Canadians generally. Readers were much less confident than most Canadians that Putin would want to expand to other nearby countries should he win the war (55%). The Spark Advocacy poll found more than three-quarters (76%) predicted that after winning in Ukraine, Putin’s aggression would expand.
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The mainstream media should be all over this story of misleading the Canadian public. Why aren’t they?