Open letter declares opposition to the Illegal Recruitment of Canadians by the IDF
Written by: Bruce Katz
An open letter sponsored by Just Peace Advocates, the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and Palestinian and Jewish Unity, has been sent to Canada’s Minister of Justice, David Lametti. The letter has been sent conjointly with a document containing a legal statement that frames a formal complaint against Israeli officials and a former Canadian ambassador to Israel in regard to what the letter states is the illegal recruitment of Canadian citizens to the Israel Defense Forces, ie. the Israeli army, within Canada. The letter has been signed by more than one hundred individuals, including Roger waters, Noam Chomsky and Chris Hedges.
The letter refers to the fact that under Canadian law, it is illegal to recruit Canadian citizens to enroll in a foreign army. The letter makes reference to Section 11 of the Foreign Enlistment Act, which states:
“Any person who, within Canada, recruits or otherwise induces any person or body of persons to enlist or to accept any commission or engagement in the armed forces of any foreign state or other armed forces operating in that state is guilty of an offence.”
According to the details of the letter, the Israeli Consulate in Toronto has “advertised on several occasions that they have an IDF representative available for personal appointments for those wishing to join the IDF, not just those who are required to do mandatory service.”
The letter goes on to say that the Israeli military has been present in some Canadian schools and organizations and that there is an indication that “IDF officers, enlisted personnel and veterans give presentations in person and remotely with the goal of inducing persons to enlist.”
The letter makes reference as well to the shooting of two Canadians by the Israel Defense Forces: Rehab Nazzal, a Ph.D. student from Western University in London, Ontario, doing federally-funded research, who was shot by an IDF sniper on December 11, 2015 as she walked down the street in Bethlehem and on May 14, 2018, Dr. Tarek Loubani, a Canadian doctor, who was attending those who had been shot by IDF snipers, when he was himself shot and wounded by the IDF in Gaza. Dr. Loubani was clearly identified as medical personnel.
The letter also demands that Justice Minister Lametti look into an event hosted by former Canadian ambassador to Israel, Deborah Lyons. According to the letter, Ms. Lyons “held a widely publicized event on January 16, 2020 in Tel Aviv honouring Canadians serving in the IDF.” The intimation is that Deborah Lyons encouraged Canadians to enrol in the IDF.
Dozens of Canadians enlist in the Israel Defense Forces as “lone soldier” recruits. The HESEG Foundation for lone soldiers is an organization founded by Heather Reisman (CEO of Indigo/Chapters) and her husband, Gerald Schwartz. The objective of HESEG (which means ‘achievement’ in Hebrew) is to encourage young Jews to enroll in the IDF:
HESEG Foundation (HESEG) provides full academic scholarships and living expenses to qualified applicants. Preference will be given to candidates who are recognized by HESEG as lone soldiers, who have come to Israel to volunteer in the IDF. (1)
According to IDF statistics, an estimated 230 Canadians were serving in the IDF from 2017 (2) for a duration of around two years. “Hundreds more go over for shorter periods of service through similar programs . . .” (3)
In 2019, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced it would investigate alleged war crimes committed by IDF troops against Palestinian civilians, “including intentionally launching disproportionate attacks, willful killing and injury of Palestinians, intentionally attacking Red Cross and other medical personnel and facilities, unlawful transfer of Israeli civilians into illegally occupied Palestinian territory and construction and expansion of illegal Jewish-only settler colonies.” In announcing its decision to investigate, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she believed that “war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.” (4)
The letter from Just Peace Advocates, the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and Palestinian and Jewish Unity to Canada’s Minister of Justice Lametti, concludes by asking for a “thorough investigation to be undertaken of those who have facilitated this recruiting for the Israeli Defense Forces and, if warranted, that charges be laid against all those involved in recruiting and encouraging recruiting in Canada for the IDF.”
This appears to be the first time that there has been a formal demand in any country for an investigation into the recruitment by Israeli authorities of foreign nationals outside Israel, into the Israel Defense Forces. It is perhaps a sign of things to come. A recent Ekos survey in Canada indicates that 84% of Canadians believe that the International Criminal Court should investigate Israeli officials over alleged war crimes. (5) Is anyone paying attention on Parliament Hill?
Bruce Katz is a retired language teacher and a founding member and current co-president of Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU), a Montreal-based pro-Palestinian solidarity organization founded in November of 2000.
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