Press Release

For Immediate Release

June 26, 2008

NCCAR recognizes Canada's ongoing support of the Palestinian people

The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) recognizes Canada's ongoing support of the Palestinian people in the form of contributions through a range of United Nations programs, including emergency food aid, employment and health care, and assistance to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza and expresses its appreciation of the recent announcement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in regards to Canada's support of the Palestinian people.

NCCAR believes in "Canada's commitment to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East," as stated recently by its President, Ms. Bahija Réghaï.

As Palestinians strive to re-constitute functioning institutions, dedicated to upholding the rule of law and respect of human rights, no basic right can be fully assured by the Palestinian authorities as long as they are under military occupation. The occupation dictates the ways in which the authorities conducts their affairs, and greatly impacts Palestinian civilians' daily lives and personal security. There needs to be progress on the political side.

NCCAR therefore urges the government of Canada to remove one of the stumbling blocks towards peace by calling for an immediate freeze to both the expansion of Israeli settlements and the building of new ones in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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Contact: Samah Sabawi (613) 878 3965, Mark Khoury (514) 581 4322