The following letter signed by over 275 Canadians from across the country was sent to all MPs and select media on June 29, 2020. If you wish to be added, send an email to Andria Spindel, with your name, profession or trade, and city of residence: andria@caef.ca
June 29, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Government of Canada
Re: Israel's Legal Rights
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Members of Cabinet,
We write to you today to ask that you acknowledge Israel’s independence and legal rights to act as a sovereign nation in resolving its own conflicts with its neighbors, settling land issues within its borders, and establishing and providing civil and human rights to those who live within its borders.
Today, many countries are attempting to dictate to Israel as to how and when it should resolve the 100 year old conflict perpetuated by its Arab neighbors and residents. While the reconstituted Jewish state is only 72 years old, the Jewish people have been working to re-establish their historical home in Israel for almost 2000 years. Their legal rights were acknowledged by the world community in April 1920 at the San Remo Conference of the victorious Allied Powers, when the last colonizers, the Ottoman Turks were finally removed from the area. The San Remo Resolution was then adopted by all members of the League of Nations and was a foundational principle in the founding of the United Nations. Arab resistance and intransigence commenced even before the state was proclaimed.
The original land granted under the Mandate system was significantly larger than all of Israel today and included Judea and Samaria, (generally referred to by the media as the West Bank) as well as the land that became the Kingdom of Jordan. Over many decades, Israel has offered land to settle the hostilities to which its neighbors are devoted. Every offer made since the 1948 Declaration of Independence has been rejected by the Arab states, making it rather obvious to any astute observer that the only acceptable outcome for the Arab world is that Israel should cease to exist.
Today, there are Arab nations willingly working with Israel and two long-term peace agreements, yet many countries in the world continue to betray Israel and expect and even demand that this very tiny country give up more. Suffice it to say, this is not a matter for other countries to dictate.
We call upon the government of Canada to support Israel’s proposal to extend sovereignty in an area already legally its own, granted by the San Remo Resolution and the UN resolution which still has merit under international law as it was never abrogated. Israel’s land rights stand firm today.
Israel’s sovereignty is the only guarantee that can protect its citizens and non-citizen residents, and anything less risks more lives from belligerent antisemitic enemies who have never given up their one goal—the demise of Israel.
Israel is not the problem! The initiative to find a peaceful solution has always come from Israel and not the Palestinian Arab Authority (PA) and its terrorist partners, the PLO, Fatah and Hamas. Today it is common knowledge that the PA is paying terrorists to kill Jews, teaching Jew-hatred in its schools, denying Israel’s existence, denying the Holocaust that killed 6,000,000 Jews, and fabricating stories daily about Israel, while Israel provides the Arabs with medical and technical assistance, security, funding for services, and access to jobs. More than that—the Israeli Arabs enjoy all the benefits of a democratic society, which is denied to the Arabs who live under PA or Hamas rule.
Do not make the mistake of preferring the false PA narrative and discounting Israel’s rights, its historic and legal claims and its democracy. Do not choose a terrorist regime over an ally. Recognize that the PA does not grant equal rights to women, bans or punishes LGBTQ people, jails political dissidents, does not allow freedom of religion or freedom of expression, raises children to venerate suicide bombers deny historical facts and commit other atrocities. Do not succumb to the antisemitic campaigns now being waged against Israel within Canada and globally. Canada should at minimum be consistent in expressing its values.
We call on the Government of Canada to recognize Israel’s legal rights and support its democratically elected government, (a coalition government representing over 75% of the population), and NOT oppose its decisions in regards to Judea and Samaria, decisions that affect the fate of Israel.
This letter is supported by Canadians across the country, whose signatures you will find below.
Respectfully,
Andria Spindel, Executive Director &
Anita Bromberg, President
Signatures
Rabbi Erwin Schild, CM, Rabbi Emeritus, Adath Israel Congregation, Toronto
Irving Weisdorf, Business owner, Founder the Mozuud Freedom Foundation, Richmond Hill
Shirley Anne Haber, Teacher (ret), Founder of CAEF, Toronto
Sean Egan, PhD., Research scientist, Toronto
Carrie Katz, community leader, Toronto
Lloyd Duckman, retired accountant, Toronto
Joan Shapero, community leader, Toronto
Goldi Steiner, Co-chair, Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights, Toronto
Judith Weinroth, MD (retired), Toronto
Rabbi Moshe Meirovich, Rabbi, Toronto
Harvey Haber, retired businessman, Toronto
Dr. Stuart Kamenetsky, psychology professor, Toronto
Dr. Jack Muskat, psychologist, Toronto
Dr. Ruth Muskat, psychologist Toronto
Michael Baigel, business owner and community leader, Toronto
Dr. Howard Tenenbaum, Dental faculty, Toronto
Janet Corey-Skobac, Teacher & artist, Toronto
Sydell Waxman, Author, Toronto
Mendl Malkin, MD (ret), Toronto
Vivienne Grace Ziner, property developer, human rights activist, Toronto
Dr. David Nussbaum, psychologist, Allen K. Hess Institute, Vaughan
Judy Feld Carr, C.M., Mus.M., Mus.Bac., LL.D., L.H.D., Toronto
Sam Fishman, President, Kehilat-Shalom Synagogue, Calgary
Allen Weinberg, Barrister and Solicitor, Toronto
Chani Aryeh-Bain, community activist, federal Conservative Candidate of Record, Toronto
Evelyn Jacobs, MAOT, community activist, Toronto
Paul A. Jacobs, B.Sc., JD, community leader, Toronto
Susan Silverman, Retired Executive, Toronto
Israel Lachovsky, community activist, Calgary
Dianne Zeifman, medical office manager (ret), Toronto
Joseph Schier, lawyer, Toronto
Dogan Akman, Crown Counsel, Federal Dept of Justice (ret), Ottawa
Lauren Isaacs, student, Director Herut Canada, Toronto-Jerusalem
Ron East, Publisher, Winnipeg
Dr. Irwin Fuss, dentist (ret), Dundas
Larry Zeifman, chartered accountant, Toronto
Arnold Silver, B.Eng., M.B.A., Toronto
Marilyn Gomberg-Silver, M.Sc. Speech Language Pathologist, Toronto
Arnold Silver, BEng. MBA, Toronto
Andy Rechtshaffen, Computer programmer, Toronto
Glenda Kleiman, Internal Auditor (ret), Toronto
Aryeh Rothman, Arad Israel, Canadian citizen
Agnes Blima Rhodes, Real Estate Agent, Canadian in Jerusalem
Sarah A. Arnold, Pre-school Teacher, Toronto
Etta Kaner, Teacher (ret) & author, Toronto
Deborah Vale, teacher, Toronto
Donald Carr O.Ont. QC, Toronto
Rabbi Gary S. Zweig, Rabbi, Toronto
Rabbi Michael Skobac. Rabbi, Toronto
Sylvia Segal, Toronto
Daniel Nurgitz, Graphic Designer, Vaughan
David Nitkin, Ethicist, community leader, Toronto
Simone Cohen Scott, Certified Esthetician (ret), Winnipeg
David Stambler, Digital Designer & Project Manager, Vancouver
Raheel Raza, President, Muslims Facing Tomorrow, Toronto
Sohail Raza, President, Forum for Learning, Toronto
Joe Gemeiner, Businessman, Toronto
Renanah Gemeiner, BA, DTATI, Co-Founder, Canadian Jews and Friends of Yezidis, Toronto
Diane Weber Bederman, Chaplain, author, journalist, Caledon
Ronda G. Stoller Wunsch, B.A., M.A., Certified Yoga Teacher; Case Manager, Teacher, Toronto
Pastor David J. Cummings, Hamilton Christian Fellowship (ret) Campbellville
Karen Solomon, PhD., psychologist, Toronto
Jeffrey Lipton, MD, Professor of Medicine, Toronto
Ellen Warner, MD, Professor of Medicine, Toronto
Wayne Wolfstadt, DDS, dentist, Toronto
Sheryl Wolfstadt, RN, Toronto
Naomi Weitz, Community volunteer, Toronto
Arthur Weitz, Optician, Toronto
David Lazarus, Windsor
Carolyn Lazarus, Windsor
Harold Lipton, Community Volunteer, Calgary
Ed Schild, Social Service Agency Executive, Thornhill
Brenda Schild, Community Volunteer, Thornhill
Miriam Finkelstein, Windsor
Dr. Sheldon Finkelstein, Physician, Windsor
Howard E. Warren, BA, JD, FDRP Med, Barrister at Law, Toronto
Hetti Pfeiffer, Outremont
Sydney Pfeiffer, Outremont
Aaron Weinroth, Biomedical Engineer, Thornhill
Nancy Weisbrod, Community leader, Toronto
Sarah Laiken, Communications & Marketing, Toronto
Evelyn Goldfarb, Lawyer, Toronto
Dr. Dorothy Devorah Pullan, Toronto
David Bernard Pullan, Toronto
Lil Feinstein, Teacher (ret), Calgary
Judy Schwartz, Burlington
Ruth Sheps, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Lorraine Hanser, Teacher, Toronto
Keith Ray, Realvest Management, Toronto
John G Chris, Lawyer, Toronto
Judi Moffat, Toronto
Louise Lewin, Professor of French (ret), Ajax
Bill Narvey, Lawyer (ret), Winnipeg
Ruth Adelman, Dental hygienist (ret), Toronto
Joe Kislowicz, Software Sales, Thornhill
Dr. Michael Pascoe, Physician, Toronto
Bev Rotman, Insurance Broker, Toronto
Norman Camerman, Professor Emeritus, Toronto
Brian Young, Retired, Toronto
Eva Halter, Mental Health Case Manager (ret), Thornhill
Rochelle Rabinovitz, VP,Calgary Council of Christians and Jews, Calgary
Elaine Chelin, Real Estate Representative, Toronto
Margie Telegdi-Smith, Caseworker and teacher (ret), Stouffville
Jack Zlotnik, Lasalle
Jonathan Glaser, Project Coordinator, Thornhill
Dr. Richard L Pass, Physician, Thornhill
Dr. Larry Dian, Clinical Professor, Vancouver
Dr. Chere G. Penny, Physician, Victoria
Elena Aschkenasi, Technical Writer, Thornhill
Stephen Posen, Lawyer, Toronto
Greg Fisher, Insurance Analyst, Vaughan
Janice Yudin, Systems Analyst (ret), Montreal
Elli Murack, Retired, Burlington
Candi Zell, Administrator, Public Service (ret.) Toronto
Joseph Soer, Realtor, Toronto
Chris Brock, Administrator, Federal Government (ret), Nepean
Lorri Kushnir. LLB, MLS, BA, Toronto
Melvin Perlmutter, Dentist (ret), Toronto
Michael Diamond, Lawyer, investor, business owner, philanthropist, Toronto
Nancy Moore, ESL Teacher (ret), Mill Bay
Mark Zimmerman, Producer of Live Theatre & Concerts, Toronto
Bernard Feinstein, President, commercial real estate brokerage & Broker, Toronto
Doreen Lurie, Review Officer with Pay Equity Commission (ret), Toronto
Barry David Barnes, Member of the Refugee Div, Immigration and Refugee Board (ret), Toronto
Howard Rotberg, Lawyer, Publisher, author, property developer, Hamilton
Barbara Abrams, Toronto
Shirley Molot, Burlington
Eileen Shapero, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Guido Smit, Business executive (ret), Toronto
Cindy Seligman, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Frances Halperin, Businesswoman (ret), Thornhill
Howard Isenberg, Lawyer and business executive (ret), Thornhill
Joel Eisenberg, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Frances M. Dvorchik, Secretary (ret), Toronto
Norman Franks, Chartered Public Accountant (ret), Vancouver
Danielle Weisman, Music Teacher (ret) and composer, Toronto
Jordan Mancini, Ultrasound Technician, Xray & Gamma Radiation Technician, Edmonton
Sarah Silverberg, Property Manager, Toronto
Larry Kraus, Lawyer, businessman, Toronto
Robert Abrams, Toronto
Brucha Kazman, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Barrie Wilson, Professor Emeritus & Senior Scholar, Toronto
Gerald Pulvermacher, Ph.D., Industrial/Organization psychologist & businessman, Ottawa
Phil Spevack, Winnipeg
Gary Brown, President, Gary Brown Holdings Limited, Toronto
Judi Moffat, Housewife, Waterdown
Dr. Lorne Greenspan, Physician, Toronto
Marc Koplowitz, Lawyer, Toronto
Dr. David Nimmo, University Educator (ret), Toronto
Charles Cooke, Lawyer, Thornhill
Mark Lapedus, Mortgage broker, Toronto
William F. Smyth, Professor, Hamilton
JG Willheim, Medical Technologist, Montreal
Barak Eitan, Steam Fitter, Edmonton
Murray Rubin, Businessman (ret), Toronto
Joseph Lebovics, CPA, Toronto
Edith Lebovics, Administrator, Toronto
Salim Mansur, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, London
Michael Caplan, Toronto
Arnie Glickman, Financial Manager, Toronto
Barbara Barnes, Toronto
Jim Matheson, Writer, Toronto
Jerry Tellinsky, Retired, Thornhill
Elizabeth Gelb, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Albert Cohen, CPA CGA, Toronto
Roy Wise, Lawyer, Toronto
Pierrette Winter, Retired, Vancouver
Dr. Julio Szmuilowicz, Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Toronto
Dr. Marvin Levant M.D., Physician, Calgary
Gerry Nemiroff, Law Professor (Ret), Winnipeg
Molly Neufeld, Realtor (ret), Toronto
Doris Epstein, Journalist, Toronto
Jennifer Badani, Saleswoman, Thornhill
Mark Golding, Investment Manager (ret), Toronto
Beverley Scheckter, Social Service Agency Executive (ret), Calgary
Joseph Edward, GSM, B.Com., Dip.Arch.Sc., CSHM, CHSMSA, CFM, PMP, Toronto
Leigh Halprin, Lawyer, Researcher Writer, Mediator (ret), Human Rights Advocate, Winnipeg
Claire Benezra, Teacher (ret), Jeweler & volunteer, Executive Assistant, Thornhill
Norman D. Yan PhD FRSC, Senior Research Scholar, Toronto
Evelyn Goldfarb, Lawyer (ret), Toronto
Kimon Michaelides, Academic, Toronto
Robert Di Francesco, Educator (ret), Dundas
Sharon Moss,Friedberg Mercantile Group Ltd., Toronto
Rochelle Wilner, Toronto
Julius Diamond, President, IMI, Marketing Consultancy, Toronto
Banjoo Tan, Toronto
Marcia Cosman, Toronto
Esther Petroff, Retired, Toronto
Bryan Ceresne, CPA, Thornhill
Helene Bauer, Teacher, Toronto
Dr. Lawrence Hart, Professor of Medicine, Ancaster
Dr. Sharon Marcovitz, Ancaster
Saul Perlov, Mortgage Broker (ret.), Toronto
Don Lafontaine, Research scientist with Agriculture Canada, Toronto
Herma Lafontaine, Registered Nurse, Toronto
Howard Bockner, Alexander Technique Teacher, Toronto
Elaine Kopman, Alexander Technique Teacher, Toronto
Peter Ekstein, Self Employed, Toronto
Marsha Eines, Teacher, Toronto
David Zacks, Lawyer Q.C., Vancouver
Dr. Laurence Klotz, CM, MD, FRCSC, Member of the Order of Canada, Toronto
Debbie Talker, Retired, Thornhill
Rev. Hilda S. Chen (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada), Clergy, Ottawa
Ophira Sone, Housewife, Toronto
Allan Switzer, Businessman and Artist, Vancouver
William Switzer, Businessman (ret), Vancouver
Sandi Leibovici, Dentist (ret), Toronto
Barbara Grossman, Lawyer, Toronto
Renee Brettler, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Philip Robins, Businessman, Thornhill
Sharon Zeiler, Dietitian, Toronto
Sylvia Saunders, Teacher (ret), Ottawa
Michael Bernstein, Teacher (ret), Thornhill
Annette Rapoport, North York
Norman Gardner, Thornhill
Gail Gardner, Toronto
Earl Gardner, Thornhill
Stephen Gardner, Toronto
Lisa Gwartz, Thornhill
Sari Shear, Thornhill
Gersh Sone, Toronto
Sheila Sone, Toronto
Dr. Terry Rosen, Oshawa
Nathan Rosen, Oshawa
Shirley Solomon, Thornhill
Les Kottler, Thornhill
Zohara Marcovitch, Thornhill
Helen Stollar, Toronto
Frank Toplitsky, Retired, Guelph
Bernice and Nate Leipicger MSM. P.Eng. LLD. (Hon). Retired, Toronto
Gerald Swartz, Professor (ret), Toronto
Miriam Ziegler-Goldberg, Retired, Thornhill
Martin L. Lazar, MD, FACS, Canadian in Dallas, Texas
Malka Arluk, Vice President Commercial Marketing (ret), Innisfail Marie Adam, Mill Bay
Lee-Anne Alter, Bank Rep, Thornhill
Nancy Doell, Chilliwack
Yosi Derman, Social Worker (ret), Toronto
Sarah Granatowicz, Volunteer and Past President, Canadian Hadassah Wizo, Toronto
Richard Brooks, Retired, Toronto
Dr Martin Chasen, Physician, Toronto
Pamela Chasen, Occupational therapist & Textile artist, Toronto
Marion Hooton, Peterborough
Murray Charles Kaufman, Retired Civil Servant, Toronto
J Stephen Lipper, Blogger, Toronto
Harriet Dickman, Retired, Mississauga
Haya Newman, Teacher (ret), North Vancouver
Debbie Talker, Retired, Thornhill
F. Katz, Federal Policy Advisor (ret), Ottawa
Sasha Weisz, Hamilton
Harry Blaier, lawyer, Toronto
Janis Flowers, Legacy Builder, Mississauga
Martin Goldberg , Dentist (ret), Vancouver
Bernice Leipicger, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Nate Leipicger, MSM. P.Eng. LLD. (Hon). Retired, Toronto
Bernard Shuster, Pharmacist (ret), Montreal
Yvette Perlov , Retired, Vaughan
Frances Hellen, Toronto
Yehudit Shier Weisberg, Educator, Canadian living in Jerusalem
Esfir Pekar, Clerical, Toronto
Elaine Weber, Teacher (ret), Winnipeg
Leor Ekstein, Car Salesman, Toronto
Judy Rodkin, Teacher (ret), Winnipeg
Louis Rodkin, College Teacher (ret), Winnipeg
Harry Blaier, lawyer, Toronto
Steven Scheffer, Retired, Burlington
Frances Weingarten, Teacher (ret), Canadian living in Israel
K. David Brody, Translator & author, Montreal
Sharon Haniford, Lawyer, Toronto
Kathy Jackson, Hamilton
Frank Giesbrecht, Nanaimo
Lucille Giesbrecht, Nanaimo
Toba Balaban, Teacher (ret), Toronto
Evelyn Breslin, Volunteer & Advocate for Development Services Sector, Toronto
Robert Rosenbaum, Right at Home Realty Inc. Brokerage, Toronto
Randy Moulton, Software developer, Winchester
Rev. Robert Graham , Presbyterian Minister, Rosemont
Alan A. Shapiro, Associate Professor Economics (retired), Toronto
Miriam Miller, Social Worker (ret), Toronto
Barb Churcher, New Westminster
David Freudenstein, Information technology professional, Toronto
Agnes Imani, Chef and instructor, Founder of Jews against Antisemitism, Thornhill
Simon Cort, Chartered Accountant (ret), Toronto
Marilyn Newman, Outremont
Stephen Schaefer, retired school social worker, Toronto