Ottawa – Israeli Jew. Humanitarian. Journalist. Author. Academic. Human Rights Activist. Nobel Peace Prize nominee Jeff Halper has been on the front lines of organizing for peace in Israel for almost 30 years. He was the only Israeli aboard the Free Gaza flotilla that broke the Gaza siege, Aug. 23, 2008. His first hand account of whether Israel is moving to peace or apartheid was the subject of a seven city cross-Canada tour that kicks off in Halifax on January 12, 2009.
Halper is known internationally for his work as a co-founder of the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions and for his passionate commitment to non-violent, political strategies to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Halper will visit Halifax (January 12-13), Montreal (January 14-17), Ottawa (January 18-19), Toronto and Hamilton (January 20-23), Winnipeg (January 24-26) and Vancouver (January 27-29) during his tour, and will speak with student groups, churches, trade unions, grassroots community organizers and Aboriginal activists.
“I can no more passively witness my government’s destruction of another people than I can watch the Occupation destroy the moral fabric of my own country,” Halper wrote in an August 5, 2008 article, as he prepared to sail as part of a delegation aimed at ending the siege of Gaza. “To do so would violate my commitment to human rights, the very essence of prophetic Jewish religion, culture and morals, without which Israel is no longer Jewish but an empty, if powerful, Sparta.”
His tour was sponsored by Independent Jewish Voices (Canada), a network of 18 Jewish groups as well as individuals Jews from across Canada who are opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
For more information, please contact:
Diana Ralph, Coordinator, Ottawa, , ijv@magma.ca, or Mark Etkin, Winnipeg, etkin@cc.UManitoba.ca
Itinerary of public events and local contacts for Jeff Halper Tour
Halifax: Further info: Larry Haiven, larry.haiven@gmail.com
- Mon, Jan 12
2:00-4:00 Kings College Seminar Room meeting with students
- Tue, Jan 13
7:30 Public speech: “The Gaza Attack: An Israeli Jewish peace activist speaks out”, Potter Auditorium, Dalhousie University
Montreal: Contact Independent Jewish Voices Mtl/Voix indépendantes juives Mtl at 514 289-9989, ijvm_vjim@yahoo.ca
- Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6:30 pm
“Gaza and a Judaism of Human Rights: Rene Cassin
McGill University, Leacock Rm 219
Introduction by Julius Grey, outspoken civil and human rights lawyer.
Rene Cassin was the Jewish author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He maintained that Jews benefit from the global application of human rights.
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 6:30 pm. McGill University, Leacock Rm 219
co-sponsored by Amnesty International-Quebec
- Thursday, January 15, 7:00 pm
“Peace in Israel? Peace with Gaza? Yes We Can!”
New location: Unitarian Church of Montreal, 3035 Boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest (Metro: Vendome)
A talk specifically for a Jewish audience on the actual situation in Israel, and what Israelis and the Jewish diaspora can do.
- Saturday, January 17, 2:oo pm
“Opposing the Canada-Israel Military and Security Agreements”
UQAM, Pavillion J.A. DeSève, Room DS-R 510
Introduction by Prof. Rachad Antonius (UQAM)
Simultaneous English/French translation provided
Ottawa: Contact Diana Ralph ijv@magma.ca
- Sun, Jan 18, 7 – 11 pm “Israel/Palestine: Towards Peace or Apartheid?” Marion Hall Auditorium, University of Ottawa, Main Campus,
- Mon., Jan. 19, 2:00 pm, “Reframing the Israel/Palestine Conflict” Room 256 S. of the Senate in Centre Block of Parliament. $10 fee,
- Mon., Jan. 19, 8 pm “Palestine: From Apartheid to Warehousing” Kailash Mital Theatre (formerly Alumni Theatre), Southam Hall, Carleton University.
Hamilton – Contact: Harry Shannon, harry.s.shannon@gmail.com or David Cohen, david316@sympatico.ca
- Wed, Jan. 21, 7:30 pm McMaster University Health Sciences Centre, room 1A1
Toronto – Contact Sandra Ruch, sandra.ruch@rogers.blackberry.net
- Thur., Jan 22, noon, Ryerson
- Thur, Jan 22, 7:30 Winchevsky Centre
- Fri., Jan. 23, 7:30 pm Public talk: Bloor St. United Church (300 Bloor St. W at Huron)
Winnipeg: Contact: Mark Etkin, etkin@cc.umanitoba.ca
- Sat, Jan. 24, 7:30 “Israel/Palestine: Towards Peace or Apartheid” –Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre, 2nd Fl., 91 Albert St.,
- Sun, Jan. 25, 4:00 pm Canadian Mennonite U. Auditorium, 500 Shaftesbury Blvd.
- Mon, Jan 26, 12:30 pm University of Winnipeg, Rm. 1L12,
- Mon, Jan 26, 3:00 pm University of Manitoba, Rm. 137 Isbister Bldg.
Vancouver : Contact: Sid Shniad, shniad@sfu.ca
- Wed, Jan. 28, 7:00 pm, The Unitarian Church of Vancouver, corner of Oak Street and 49th Ave W., Vancouver
- Fri, Jan 30, 5:00 pm University of British Columbia, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (Main Library) Room 182
- Fri, Jan 30, 8:00 pm, Al-Salaam Mosque, 5060 Canada Way, Burnaby.
Victoria: Contact: George McFetridge, mailito:geomcfet@gmail.com
- Thur, Jan 29, hosted by Committee Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) – Victoria
