Toronto Meeting with UN Special Rapporteur
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, spoke on November 8 at the Steelworkers' Hall in Toronto during her week-long visit to Canada. The meeting was organized by Independent Jewish Voices and supported by the Toronto Area Council of the United Steelworkers on a day's notice by word of mouth. Some 150 union members, students, youth and community activists participated. Albanese made brief introductory remarks and then the floor was opened for discussion and questions.
The main point Albanese drove home was that what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank is not a war but a genocide. She said that Israel clearly has the intent to exterminate the Palestinian people through massacres, starvation and displacement. There can be no confusion about this, she emphasized.
She also pointed out that all efforts must be exercised by the international community to end the genocide. Pointing to the recent International Court of Justice ruling in July that Israel must end its occupation, dismantle its settlements, provide reparations and facilitate the return of displaced Palestinians, Albanese pointed out that it is the responsibility of all countries, including Canada, to ensure that the ruling is followed. She called on all people of conscience in Canada to step up efforts toward this aim, including by holding the Canadian government to account for its shameful unqualified support for Israel.
She called on the workers in particular to use their unions and numbers to speak out against the genocide. She applauded the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Canada, as well as efforts by Canadians to put an end to the shady NGOs and "charities" which are raising funds illegally to finance the genocide. She suggested that Canadian pension plans that are invested in Israel should be investigated and asked to divest from Israel.
She added that her next report to the UN will include the role of banks and private industry, NGOs and charities invested in Israel to shine a light on how they are supporting genocide in that country.
In concluding her remarks Albanese expressed hope and conviction that by continuing to work together and uniting politically, using all means including legal actions to hold Israel and its supporters to account, Canadians will make an indelible contribution to the ultimate victory of the Palestinian people.
This article was published in
Friday,
November 15, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2024/Articles/TI54512.HTM
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