Open Letter to Prime Minister of Canada by Retired Canadian DiplomatsOn June 1, fifty-nine former Canadian diplomats signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Trudeau to affirm Canada's commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law and oppose Israel's announced plan of annexation of currently occupied Palestinian territory. Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada Dear Prime Minister Trudeau, We are writing to you as retired Canadian diplomats, proud of Canada's historical commitment to multilateral institutions and its reputation for supporting the rule of law. As you know, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced publicly his intention to "annex" in the coming weeks a significant amount of land that Canada, and the international community, recognize as occupied Palestinian Territory. The unilateral annexation of territory is strictly prohibited under international law. This is a centrepiece of the Charter of the United Nations, San Francisco, June 26, 1945, and has been consolidated by treaties and resolutions, judicial rulings and scholarly writings ever since. Indeed, this prohibition has acquired the status of a jus cogens norm in international law, meaning that it is accepted as a fundamental principle of law by the international community. Territorial conquest and annexation are notorious for contributing to fateful results: war, political instability, economic ruin, systematic discrimination and human suffering. Speaking specifically to the five-decade-long Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, the UN Security Council has affirmed, on eight occasions since 1967, the principle of "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory" by war or force. This principle was cited by the council to condemn as unlawful Israel's two prior annexations of East Jerusalem, in 1980, and the Syrian Golan Heights in 1981. We would like to urge you to publicly acknowledge Canada's commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law by issuing a statement that Canada reaffirms its position in support of all relevant UN resolutions, including UNSC resolution 2334, which was adopted on December 23, 2016. As you are no doubt aware, many of our allies have already spoken out opposing the Israeli proposal. Significant Canadian civil society organizations, including some Christian churches and Jewish organizations, have also urged Canada to take a similar stand. As former Canadian diplomats, we urge you to protect Canada's good name in the international community by speaking loudly and clearly on this issue. For signatories click here.
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