Tell Trudeau to Commemorate Palestinians' Nakba Day, too!
Click on the image to send an email to Trudeau requesting he commemorate "Nakba Day". Photo credit: UNRWA
Dear Friend,
This Sunday, May 15 marks Nakba Day, commemorating the forced exile and dispossession of the majority of the Palestinian people from their homeland. This sombre episode in Palestinian history is commemorated annually by Palestinians in Canada and around the world.
Around the same time every year, most Israelis and many Jews celebrate Israel's birth as a state, known in Hebrew as Yom Ha'Atzmaut.
Both days are regarded as very important by their respective communities.
Therefore, I was disappointed to learn that the Liberal Party has released a public statement each year since 2012 commemorating Yom Ha'Atzmaut, while making no mention whatsoever of Nakba Day. Prime Minister Trudeau just released this statement celebrating the "68th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel with our Israeli friends and Jewish communities, both here in Canada, and around the world."
Justin Trudeau commemorating Yom Ha'Aztmaut in 2015 with a public statement.
The Liberals announced that they intend to play the role of "honest broker" in the Middle East. It would, however, be far from impartial for the Liberals to celebrate Israel's birth while completely ignoring the Palestinians' dispossession-- which was a direct result of Israel's birth.
If the Liberals wish to play the role of an honest broker-- which they have failed at playing since coming into office--they need to begin by commemorating Nakba Day alongside Yom Ha'Atzmaut. A failure to do this will continue to send Canadians the message that Palestinians and their narrative should simply be ignored. Is that the behaviour of an honest broker?
Please take a moment to sign our e-mail petition to Prime Minister Trudeau, and share this message with your friends through email and social media by copying and pasting this link: https://madmimi.com/p/d393c7
If you have twitter, please take a moment to tweet Justin Trudeau. Here are a couple of samples:
.@JustinTrudeau Its time to commemorate #NakbaDay too. Don't be a #dishonestbroker, support justice & reconciliation in #Israel & #Palestine
.@JustinTrudeau If you want to play "honest broker" #Palestinians cant be ignored. If you celebrate Israel's birth commemorate #NakbaDay too
P.S. If you're interested in learning more about the Nakba, I encourage you to refer to this well-documented piece by the Institute for Middle East Understanding.
