Calling it a “misguided approach” Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has announced Canada strongly opposes the the decision to convene a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions regarding the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

“Canada is deeply disappointed by the convening of this one-sided and politicized conference, which serves only to single out one country, Israel, for criticism,” said Minister Baird in a statement released Tuesday (December 16) which said Canada would not attend the meeting “nor lend it any credibility”.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17.

On Tuesday, the Palestine News Network reported that the Palestinian leadership “expresses its appreciation for Switzerland’s decision to host a meeting on December 17 of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to examine the application of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This conference will draw attention to Israel’s violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. This conference is also part of growing international efforts to confront Israel’s racial discrimination, including seizure of land, settlement construction and expansion, house demolitions, destruction of infrastructure, looting of natural resources, and violations of the holy sites in Jerusalem.”

More information:

Foreign Affairs, Trade and International Development press release – Canada Strongly Opposes Decision to Convene Anti-Israel Conference in Geneva – here

Jerusalem Post – Israel blasts Switzerland for acceding to Palestinians with Geneva Convention meeting – here

Counter Punch – The US Feels the Heat on Palestine Vote at UN – here

Palestine News Network – Palestinian Leadership to Submit the Palestinian Draft Resolution to Security Council on Wednesday – here

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