Defending Palestinian Civil Society: Understanding Canada's Role

Israel has been targeting Palestinian civil society organizations as linked to terrorism. On August 18, they shut down the offices of seven of these organizations and sealed the entrances shut with welded steel. While Israel has not presented evidence, Ottawa has yet to condemn these actions. A discussion at the start of the month touched on whether Israel has motives other than security. As well, they would touch on Canada's role in enabling Israeli violence on Palestinians and how Canadian civil society can respond. Speakers include Sahar Francis, General Director of Ramallah-based Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association Michael Lynk, legal academic, associate professor at the University of Western Ontario and former United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories Yavar Hameed, lawyer in Ontario with a focus on racial profiling, lawful expression, equality rights, prisoner rights and migrant protection Bianca Mugyenyi, journalist, activist, author and Director of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute