Al-Haq and Just Peace Advocates recently released a report examining “Israeli Appropriation and Exploitation in Palestine Using Medjoul Dates.” The report highlights how the disparity between ‘Israeli’ and Palestinian date exports is a result of intentional roadblocks imposed by the State of Israel to economically suffocate Palestinian agriculture and commerce, as well as prevent Palestinian self-determination in order to continue illegal settlements in occupied territory. You can read the full report HERE.

The report has been provided to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Department of Justice and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), asking them to investigate and act in reference to violations of domestic and international law.

Palestinian farmers growing medjoul dates face major obstacles due to Israel’s settler-colonial apartheid and occupation regime. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) identified “key challenges” facing the Palestinian date palm sector: water scarcity, high production and transaction costs, skilled labour shortages, inefficient practices (small holders), and unfair competition from Israeli products. Every one of these “challenges” is, plainly, a roadblock imposed by the Israeli state.

Generally, ‘Israeli’ dates arrive in Canada through direct importation from Israeli producers, or through indirect routes such as US distributors. Over the years the two main Israeli brands importing directly to Canada have been agricultural giants, Hadiklaim and Mehadrin.

Notably, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) contradicts its own labelling policy when dealing with medjoul dates. Canadian regulations require fresh produce to be labelled with the Country of Origin. Medjoul dates are considered a fresh fruit because they do not go through a drying or treatment process. They are picked, washed, and packaged and generally chilled for transport and during storage to keep them fresh. Also, CFIA defines processed fruit as one that is “in a hermetically sealed package and is commercially sterile or that has been cooked, frozen, concentrated, pickled or otherwise prepared to assure its preservation.” In 2019 Canadian BDS Coalition wrote a letter to CFIA charging that medjoul dates were incorrectly labeled from Israel when in fact were from illegal settlements located inside the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) or labeled without a country of origin. CFIA responded that medjoul dates are considered “dried” and therefore do not require a country of origin. CFIA interpreted dates as dry when the rest of world considers them fresh.

The report also outlines violations across the supply chain with reference to the Fourth Geneva Convention, Rome Statute, Geneva Conventions Act, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (CAHWCA) and other Canadian and International laws.

Specifically, the CAHWCA, states “every person who conspires or attempts to commit, is an accessory after the fact in relation to, or counsels in relation to, an offense referred to in subsection (1) is guilty of an indictable offense.” This applies both to the respective government agencies and every member of the supply chain. Those involved in the supply chain include representatives of the Israeli companies, shipping companies, Canadian importers, distributors, and retailers.

Government agencies like CFIA, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) must also be held liable for allowing and facilitating the importation of these products. All responsible parties should be held accountable for crimes including: the War Crime of Pillage, Failing to Differentiate Goods from Occupied Territory in Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), Land Appropriation, Transfer of Civilian Populations, The Crime of Apartheid, Aiding and Abetting, Laundering Proceeds of Crime and Jurisdiction.

You can read the full report including the legal context HERE.

Ask the Canadian government to read the report, investigate and take action with regard to the war crimes associated with allowing medjoul dates from OPT to be imported into and sold in Canada.