“What message are Canadians giving when our nation’s name is linked to the expulsion of a people from their land and paid for with Canadian tax-deductible dollars that has been used – in contravention of international law – to effectively annex a section of the West Bank to Israel? …

As we Canadians prepare for our annual spring ritual of filing our taxes, it is time to renounce our namesake park.” -Corey Levine (31 March 2011) (For the full article, click here.)

"Canada Park" - On the road to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv - 26 Jan. 2011 - Photo: Sherry Ann

“As spring sets in early, Israelis have been pouring into one of the country’s most popular leisure spots. Visitors to Canada Park, a few kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, enjoy its spectacular panoramas, woodland paths, mountain-bike trails, caves and idyllic picnic areas.

A series of signs describe the historical significance of the landscape, as well as that of a handful of ancient buildings, in terms of their Biblical, Roman, Hellenic and Ottoman pasts. Few, if any, visitors take notice of the stone blocks that litter sections of the park.

But Eitan Bronstein, director of Zochrot (Remembering), is committed to educating Israelis and foreign visitors about the park’s hidden past — its Palestinian history.

“In fact, though you would never realize it, none of this park is even in Israel,” he told a group of 40 Italians on a guided tour this past weekend. “This is part of the West Bank captured by Israel during the 1967 war. But the presence of Palestinians here — and their expulsion — is entirely missing from the signs.” ” – Jonathan Cook (2009) (For the full article, click here.)            ~~~~~~~~~~

“As North Americans, we support the “Global March to Jerusalem” (click here and here) on March 30, 2012. The March is initiated and will be directed by Palestinians from around the world. The Global March to Jerusalem will reassert and affirm the Palestinian refugees’ Right of Return and right of access to Jerusalem.

The organizers, endorsers and participants have committed themselves to a nonviolent march and have no intention to harm any person. We encourage other individuals and organizations that are committed to human rights and justice to support the Global March to Jerusalem: participate as marchers; volunteer services to the project; take legal, official and diplomatic intervention on behalf of the refugees; and, offer financial support.” (See more here.)           ~~~~~~~~~~

“Why Land Day still matters

Today, with no resolution in sight to the historic injustices inflicted upon
them, Palestinians in Israel and elsewhere use this day to remember and
redouble their efforts for emancipation.

By Sam Bahour and Fida Jiryis

Every year since 1976, on March 30, Palestinians around the world have
commemorated Land Day. Though it may sound like an environmental
celebration, Land Day marks a bloody day in Israel when security forces
gunned down six Palestinians, as they protested Israeli expropriation of
Arab-owned land in the country’s north to build Jewish-only settlements.

The Land Day victims were not Palestinians from the occupied territories,
but citizens of the state, a group that now numbers over 1.6 million people,
or 20.5 percent of the population. They are inferior citizens in a state
that defines itself as Jewish and democratic, but in reality is neither.” (For the full article, click here.)          ~~~~~~~~~

See an article from The Globe and Mail (30 March 2012) (click here) and follow that article to the Comments section (here).          ~~~~~~~~~

As a Canadian, I am embarrassed that a place (that is part of the story of the expulsion of Palestinians) in the occupied West Bank would be named Canada Park. I am moved to think about Canada’s own colonial history. I choose to listen and learn and join the global movement for justice for all…  As one step into this journey, I will be listening to the four-part video at this site – click here. Another step is to learn more about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – click here.