Canada recently voted to support “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination” at the UN. The move broke with the country’s decade-old tradition of steadfast support for Israel at the UN by either voting against or abstaining on these resolutions. Marion Kawas looks at the motives behind the vote, and whether it is a sign of change for the Trudeau government.

The Canadian BDS Coalition is declaring victory in its campaign to stop the Toronto Raptors from going on a team trip to Israel, which co-owner Larry Tanenbaum promised after winning the NBA championship in June 2019.

Canada’s attorney general has announced he was appealing a recent federal court ruling that banned labeling wines produced in West Banks settlements as products of Israel. 

As Canadians return to the polls in October for national elections, Palestinian-Canadians have launched a campaign entitled #IVotePalestine, listing 9 basic human rights demands for all candidates.

The City of Vancouver, Canada might seem to be an odd place for a battle over the IHRA definition of antisemitism. But that is exactly what happened in the last week, and it all concluded with a temporary victory for free speech, human rights, and common sense.

Hanna and Marion Kawas write that the recent visit of a Jewish National Fund delegation to Havana besmirches the long history of joint struggle and solidarity between the Cuban and Palestinian peoples.

NBA champions have refused to go to the White House for the last two years, and the Toronto Raptors should reject part-owner Larry Tanenbaum’s notion that the team will visit Israel. There has been silence about the plan for 3 weeks. But activists have been rallying opposition to the trip, and Marion Kawas hopes it is in the dustbin of history.

Progressive activists in North America have been inundated for weeks now with analysis and commentary about what happened to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. But one voice that consistently seems to be missing from most of this debate is the voice of Zionism’s primary victims, the Palestinians.

Marion Kawas’ return to Lebanon came with disappointments, “In many areas, there is nothing left to recognize from 45 years ago, especially given the destruction that occurred during the years of the devastating civil war and the subsequent 1982 Israeli military invasion.”

Earlier this month, BDS Vancouver activists launched a campaign after learning that Ballet BC was planning to perform in Israel in January, 2019. The petition that was started has now garnered over 4200 signatures, with a clear call to Ballet BC to not be complicit in helping Israel cover up its war crimes.