March 23rd, 2009 by NGO Monitor Staff | Category: Durban Review Conference, Government Funding

Federal government ends Arab federation funding, Canada.com, March 19, 2009

The government will not renew a two-year, $2.1-million contract, which expires at the end of this month, for immigrant language instruction provided by the federation. A $473,873 contract for immigrant job search assistance may not be renewed when it expires March 31, 2010…

 

“As you are also aware, serious concerns have arisen with respect to certain public statements that have been made by yourself or other officials of the CAF,” says the letter…”These statements have included the promotion of hatred, anti-Semitism and support for the banned terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. “The objectionable nature of these public statements in that they appear to reflect the CAF’s evident support for terrorist organizations and positions on its part which are arguably anti-Semitic raises serious questions about the integrity of your organization and has undermined the government’s confidence in the CAF as an appropriate partner for the delivery of settlement services to newcomers.”

 

The Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) is accredited to participate in the Durban Review Conference and is an endorser of the “Palestinian Civil Society Strategic Position Paper” for the Durban Review Conference which refers to Israel as a “regime of apartheid, colonization and occupation.”  On the Gaza war, the CAF has referred to the “massacre on Gaza”, “ruthless and unnecessary collective punishment of an entire population in violation of international law”, and has called for a “[t]ribunal trial at court of justice for usurping Israeli fighters and their criminal leaders.” The CAF also believes that “nothing in the draft [of the Outcome Document] justifies [Canada’s decision not to attend the conference]…” and “supports the planning committee’s calls for stronger laws against defaming religion.”