News Release
Ottawa, ON, 5 November, 2009 The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) welcomes the endorsement of the Report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (the “Goldstone Report”) by the UN General Assembly and its request to transmit the report to the Security Council. There were 114 votes for, 18 votes against (including Canada) and 44 abstentions.
The resolution calls on the Government of Israel and on the Palestinian side to undertake, within a period of three months, investigations that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards into the serious violations of international humanitarian and international human rights law reported by the Fact-Finding Mission, towards ensuring accountability and justice.
Importantly, Switzerland, has been asked to reconvene a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Conventions on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Canada, being a High Contracting Party is required by Article 1 “to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances.”
NCCAR is dismayed that Canada voted against this General Assembly resolution claiming that the Goldstone Report was “unbalanced.” Canada’s representative called for investigations by “relevant authorities,” without specifying that the investigations should be independent, credible and in conformity with international standards.
Strangely, he proceeded to state that Israel is already conducting an investigation and that Canada is looking forward to its report. This suggests that Canada is willing to accept Israel’s review of its own biased military investigation instead of insisting, as did the vast majority of countries, that both sides conduct independent, credible investigations.
“NCCAR is dismayed and saddened that Canada would vote in a way which betrays our national values of respect for human rights and international law. Such a vote serves neither the interests of Israel, Palestinians nor the rule of law in international affairs,” says NCCAR’s president, Rula Odeh. NCCAR calls on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to explain Canada’s position that effectively voted for impunity and against justice for victims of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
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Contact: Rula Odeh, President
Office: 613.238.3795
Mobile: 514.559.4090
Email: nccar@nccar.ca
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