Nine months into a livestreamed campaign of genocide in Gaza, demands for an arms embargo against Israel keep falling into deaf ears.
Three dozen Palestine supporters converged on MP Randall Garrison’s office in Victoria to demand Canada halt all trade in arms and military technology with Israel amidst a campaign of genocide in Gaza.
The event was organised by the local chapter of Independent Jewish Voices Canada, in conjunction with a national campaign calling for a day of sit-ins at MPs’ offices. A total of forty-three such event were to be held from coast to coast.
Randall Garrison has been a repeat target of protesters over his continued support of Israel even as it faces charges of genocide before the International Court of Justice. He has been in particular sharply criticised for sitting as vice-president on the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group.
While Canada has officially halted the approval of weapon exports to Israel, critics point out that the watered-down measure by Parliament falls way short of an actual arms embargo, if only because it doesn’t apply to permits that have already been issued. Furthermore, the measures do not extend to other military ordnances.
Randall Garrison wasn’t present at the office on this day, which was allegedly closed for the day due to sickness. Likewise, an appeal to a driver on the parking lot fell into deaf ears; she adamantly found refuge in bothsidesism, callously dismissed the crisis as a foreign issue, and even advanced that such protests didn’t belong here in Canada.
Also, a motion has been brought forward by Councillor Marg Gardiner over unsubstantiated allegations of antisemitism in this city. Palestine supporters were encouraged to attend today’s council meeting as a peaceful display of censure against the measure.
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Never take your rights for granted. Women in particular know even hard-earned ones are never far from being taken away.
Although the event was a relative success, its outcome leaves me most apprehensive. Regretfully, we had to end it early.
When Jews rally at your doorstep complaining that your antisemitism motion is offensive bullshit, take the hint, Marg Gardiner.
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