Canada speaks against E1 Construction, but Palestine needs action not words
Yesterday, August 20th, the Canadian government made a statement along with France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom on the Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project.
This followed indication that the Israel Land Authority announced tenders for E1 with a closing date of October 19th.
The statement Canada supported stated “The Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable. The international community has long opposed this settlement expansion and has voiced their grave concerns privately and publicly.” It continues saying “International law is clear that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal. This is the position of the international community reaffirmed by the United Nations Security Council.”
The statement indicated they would “urge the Government of Israel to retract these plans immediately and end its expansion of settlements in the West Bank” and warned that “Businesses should not consider bidding for construction tenders. They should be aware of legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involving themselves in serious breaches of international law.”
However, these words are not enough. Action is needed.
The awarding of these E1 tenders will indeed result in the separation of the West Bank.
The E1 area sits between three Palestinians cities, Ramallah, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem. The annexation project would forcibly displace Palestinian communities, destroy their homes, steal their land, and prevent farmers from maintaining their livelihoods. The latter is particularly salient because the area is home to “approximately 3,000 Palestinian Bedouins belonging to 20 communities”, who raise cattle for a living, and many of whom were forcibly displaced from their homes in the Naqab (“Negev”) during the Nakba.
“For Palestinians and much of the international community, the E1 settlement plan is not just another construction project; it is the second cornerstone — after the apartheid Wall — in Israel’s wider annexation strategy in the West Bank.”
For Canada to say ‘stop the expansion of settlements’ rather than ‘end the illegal occupation of Palestine’ is not acceptable.
When the bids are opened on October 19, E-1 will be a reality. We are at the point of no return. Canada, you cannot let this come to pass.
The government of Canada must make clear that it will sanction any individual or company involved in E1 and pursue accountability for alleged war crimes.
As Canada itself reiterated yesterday, Israeli settlements are illegal, including the E1 project. However, Canada must do more than release statements, they must take tangible action to stop the E1 annexation plan and end all support for illegal Israeli settlements. Canada is currently supporting illegal settlements through trade, investments, charity tax relief, strategic support, and weapons.
Canada must immediately issue advisory alerts to all Canadian entities against participation in, or investments in companies participating in, the construction of any settlement projects, including in the E1 area.
Further, Canada must immediately implement sanctions against foreign entities participating in illegal settlement activity, including the maintenance of current illegal settlements. The UK is currently drafting sanctions in this regard. Further, Canada must institute legal proceedings against Canadian entities engaged in the maintenance or expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements.
Canada must take action.
Canada has condemned the E1 plan, but condemnations without consequences will not stop Israel, which has been operating with impunity for too long.
