Letter regarding Israel's attack on Gaza and international law

January 19, 2009

Dear Prime Minister Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister Cannon:

We the undersigned academics and educators express our condemnation of Israel's attack on Gaza. With over 600 dead, including 100 children, we call on the Canadian government to demand an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities. As per the position of UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine, Richard Falk, the attack constitutes a war crime in that it is completely disproportionate to the threat posed, and violates international humanitarian law on at least three grounds: Collective punishment, Targeting Civilians, Disproportionate military response. We call on the Canadian government to implement sanctions against the Israeli government until it ceases its attack against the people of Gaza and fully complies with international law.

Sincerely,

Raja Abboud, University of British Columbia
Gamal Abdel-Shehid, York University
Walid Abou-Salem, University of Toronto
Diana Abraham, York University
Yasmeen Abu-Laban, University of Alberta
Mary Louise Adams, Queen's University
Laurie Adkin, University of Alberta
Greg Albo, York University
Harris Ali, York University
Mehrunnisa Ali, Ryerson University
Tariq Amin-Khan, Ryerson University
Rachad Antonius, Université du Québec à Montréal
Paul Antze, York University
Sedef Arat-Koç, Ryerson University
Hugh Armstrong, Carleton University
Sylvat Aziz, Queen's University
Carl Baar, York University
Feyzi Baban, Trent University
Susan Babbitt, Queen's University
Abigail B. Bakan, Queen's University
Patricia Balcom, University of Moncton
Deborah Barndt, York University
Elena Basile, York University
Gregory Baum, McGill University
Ray Bazowski, York University
Pierre Beaudet, University of Ottawa
Marta Berbes, York University
Jody Berland, York University
Davina Bhandar, Trent University
Ann Bigelow, University of Western Ontario
Malcolm Blincow, York University
Glenda Lynna Anna Tibe Bonifacio, University of Lethbridge
Marion Boulby, Trent University
David Bourgeois, St. Mary's University
Derek Brown, Brandon University
Annette Burfoot, Queen's University
Bill Burgess, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Mike Burke, Ryerson University
Doris Buss, Carleton University
Paula Butler, Trent University
Duncan Cameron, Simon Fraser University
David Camfield, University of Manitoba
Dominique Caouette, Université de Montréal
Anna Carastathis, Université de Montréal
Bill Carroll, University of Victoria
Julian Castro-Rea, University of Alberta
John Chamard, Saint Mary's University
Debra Chapman, Wilfrid Laurier University
Norman Cheadle, Laurentian University
Peter Chidiac, University of Western Ontario
Sally Chivers, Trent University
Rustum Choksi, Simon Fraser University
Aziz Choudry, McGill University
Tanya Chung Tiam Fook, York University
Andrew Clement, University of Toronto
David Clipsham, York University
Lynne Cohen, University of Ottawa
Janet Conway, Brock University
Kendra Coulter, University of Windsor
Rebecca Coulter, University of Western Ontario
Deborah Cowen, University of Toronto
Bob Cox, York University
Jen Cypher, York University
Dia Da Costa, Queen's University
Edwin E. Daniel, University of Alberta
Mary Ellen Davis, Concordia University
Radhika Desai, University of Manitoba
Rita Dhamoon, University of the Fraser Valley
Karen Dubinsky, Queen's University
Peter Eglin, Wilfrid Laurier University
Marie-Eve Desrosiers, Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Tim Di Muzio, Trent University
Ivar Ekeland, University of British Columbia
Ashraf El Damatty, University of Western Ontario
Munir El-Kassem, University of Western Ontario
Christo El Morr, York University
Bruce Erickson, York University
Jamey Essex, University of Windsor
Bryan Evans, Ryerson University
Randa Farah, University of Western Ontario
Hani Faris, University of British Columbia
Leesa Fawcett, York University
Matt Feagan, Ryerson University
Sue Ferguson, Wilfrid Laurier University
Peter Fitting, University of Toronto
Honor Ford-Smith, York University
Scott Forsyth, York University
Margot Francis, Brock University
Myron Frankman, McGill University
Gail Fraser, York University
Gavin Fridell, Trent University
Bernd Frohmann, University of Western Ontario
Richard Fung, Ontario College of Art & Design
Mark Gabbert, University of Manitoba
Grace-Edward Galabuzi, Ryerson University
Judith Garber, University of Alberta
Dina Georgis, University of Toronto
Liette Gilbert, York University
Luin Goldring, York University
Kanishka Goonewardena, University of Toronto
Rachel Gorman, University of Toronto
Kevin Gould, Concordia University
Janice Graham, Dalhousie University
Julie Guard, University of Manitoba
Shubhra Gururani, York University
André Habib, Université de Montréal
Laam Hae, York University
Judy Haiven, St. Mary's University
Larry Haiven, St. Mary's University
Budd Hall, University of Victoria
Evelyn Hamdon, University of Alberta
Bernie Hammond, University of Western Ontario
Paul Handford, University of Western Ontario
Elizabeth Hanson, Queen's University
Jens Hanssen, University of Toronto
Sumi Hasegawa, McGill University
Gita Hashemi, York University
Danny Heap, University of Toronto
David Heap, University of Western Ontario
Tania Hernandez, York University
Alan Hunt, Carleton University
Adrienne Carey Hurley, McGill University
Esam Hussein, University of New Brunswick
Maggie Hutcheson, York University
Pablo Idahosa, York University
Nancy Jackson, University of Toronto
Amina Jamal, Ryerson University
Radha Jhappan, Carleton University
Fred Judson, University of Alberta
Ilan Kapoor, York University
Ali Kazimi, York University
Roger Keil, York University
Jennifer Kelly, University of Alberta
R.M. Kennedy, Centennial College
Mohammad Ali Khalidi, York University
Aliya Khan, McMaster University
Shahnaz Khan, Wilfrid Laurier University
Punam Khosla, York University
Samantha King, Queen's University
Catherine Kingfisher, University of Lethbridge
Paul Kingston, University of Toronto
Carla Klassen, University of Toronto
Thomas Klassen, York University
Mustafa Koç, Ryerson University
Udo Krautwurst, University of Prince Edward Island
Robert Kristofferson, Wilfrid Laurier University
Atif Kubursi, McMaster University
Clarice Kuhling, Wilfrid Laurier University
Paritosh Kumar, Queen's University
Patricia Landolt, University of Toronto
Natalie LaRoche
Alex Latta, Wilfrid Laurier University
David Leadbeater, Laurentian University
Genevieve LeBaron, York University
Paul Leduc Browne, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Ute Lehrer, York University
Winnie Lem, Trent University
Charmain Levy, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Andrée Lévesque, McGill University
David Lidov, York University
Abby Lippman, McGill University
Margaret Little, Queen's University
Susan Lord, Queen's University
Bob Luker, George Brown College
Rashmi Luther, Carleton University
Michael Lynk, University of Western Ontario
Mike Ma, McMaster University
Robert MacDermid, York University
Eleanor MacDonald, Queen's University
Michael, MacEntee, University of British Columbia
Bonnie MacLachlan, University of Western Ontario
Rianne Mahon, Carleton University
Gada Mahrouse, Concordia University
Diana Majury, Carleton University
Michael Mandel, York University
Paul Manning, Trent University
Egla Martinez, Carleton University
Dominique Masson, Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Nadia Massoud, York University
Rosanna Maule, Concordia University
Carlota McAllister, York University
Anne McDougall, University of Alberta
David McNally, York University
Lorraine McNeil, Fanshawe College
John Menzies
Donna Mergler, Université du Québec à Montréal
Suzanne Mills, Memorial University
Amina Mire, Carleton University
Haideh Moghissi, York University
Ken Mohammed
Shahrzad Mojab, University of Toronto
Patricia Molloy, Wilfrid Laurier University
Kevin Moloney, York University
Abbas Momeni, Queen's University
Radhika Mongia, York University
Livia Monnet, Université de Montréal
Ken Montgomery, University of Regina
Colin Mooers, Ryerson University
Cate Mortimer-Sandilands, York University
Vincent Mosco, Queen's University
Kent Murnaghan, York University
Karen Murray, York University
Natasha Myers, York University
Eileen Muller Myrdahl, University of Lethbridge
Tiffany Muller Myrdahl, University of Lethbridge
Neil Naiman, York University
Zabeda Nazim, Wilfrid Laurier University
James Naylor, Brandon University
Zoe Newman, York University
Van Nguyen-Marshall, Trent University
Jon Nissenbaum, McGill University
Marielle Nitoslawska, Concordia University
Maire Noonan, McGill University
Bonny Norton, University of British Columbia
Sam Noumoff, McGill University
Colleen O'Manique, Trent University
Reecia Orzeck, University of Vermont
James Overboe, Wilfrid Laurier University
Ishita Pande, Queen's University
Leo Panitch, York University
Karen Pearlston, University of New Brunswick
Anthony Peirce, University of British Columbia
Patricia E. Perkins, York University
Nalini Persram, York University
John Peters, Laurentian University
Najat Rahman, Université de Montréal
Lila Pine, Ryerson University
Emily Porth, York University
Garry Potter, Wilfrid Laurier University
Elaine Power, Queen's University
Scott Prudham, University of Toronto
Mary-Beth Raddon, Brock University
Barbara Rahder, York University
Omar M. Ramahi, University of Waterloo
Joshua Ramisch, University of Ottawa
Katharine Rankin, University of Toronto
Leda Raptis, Queen's University
Marjorie Ratcliffe, University of Western Ontario
Frances Ravensbergen, Concordia University
Judy Rebick, Ryerson University
Cristina Rojas, Carleton University
Louise Rolingher, University of Alberta
Richard Roman, University of Toronto
Herman Rosenfeld, McMaster University
Stephanie Ross, York University
Mary Roth, University of Minnesota
Reuben Roth, Laurentian University
Susan Ruddick, University of Toronto
Blair Rutherford, Carleton University
Maija Saari, Wilfrid Laurier University
Ariel Salzmann, Queen's University
Nicholas Sammond, University of Toronto
Julian Samuel, Montreal
Anders Sandberg, York University
John Saul, York University
Eric Schiller, University of Ottawa
Mario Seccareccia, University of Ottawa
Maya Seshia, University of Alberta
Ben-Zion Shek, University of Toronto
Lynette Shultz, University of Alberta
Yasmine Shamsie, Wilfrid Laurier University
Alan Shandro, Laurentian University
Paul Shaffer, Trent University
Harry Shannon, McMaster University
Carolyn Sharp, Saint Paul University
Nicola Short, York University
Alexis Shotwell, Laurentian University
Muhammad A. Shuraydi, University of Windsor
Edward T. Silva, University of Toronto
Bill Skidmore, Carleton University
Harry Smaller, York University
Sylvia Soderlind, Queen's University
Lee Soderstrom, McGill University
Susanne Soederberg, Queen's University
Jesook Song, University of Toronto
Barbara Spronk
Susan Spronk, Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Douglass St. Christian, University of Western Ontario
Daiva Stasiulis, Carleton University
Makere Stewart-Harawira, University of Alberta
Aara Suksi, University of Western Ontario
Aparna Sundar, Ryerson University
Bill Swanson, York University
Donald Swartz, Carleton University
Lisa Taylor, Bishop's University
Marcus Taylor, Queen's University
Sunera Thobani, University of British Columbia
Dave Thomas, Mount Allison University
Jocelyn Thorpe, University of British Columbia
Alissa Trotz, University of Toronto
Miwako Uesaka, McGill University
Mustafa Yavuz, University of Waterloo
Diana Young, Carleton University
Donna Young
Tom Young, University of Toronto
Asha Varadharajan, Queen's University
Rinaldo Walcott, University of Toronto
Naomi Binder Wall, Georgian/Laurentian
Rosemary Warskett, Carleton University
Tom Webb, St. Mary's University
Laura Westra, University of Windsor
Johanna Weststar, Saint Mary's University
Stu Whittington, University of Toronto
Fiona Whittington-Walsh, Ryerson University
Carol Williams, Trent University
Janice Williamson, University of Alberta
David Winter, Brandon University
James Winter, University of Windsor
Lesley Wood, York University
Cynthia Wright, University of Toronto
Anna Zalik, York University
Jasmin Zine, Wilfrid Laurier University
Elia Zureik, Queen's University
Robert Albritton, York University
Sabah Alnasseri, York University
Manfred Bienefeld, Carleton University
Daniel Drache, York University
Uzoma Esonwanne, University of Toronto
Linda Freeman, Carleton University
Harry Glasbeek, York University
Mark Goodman, York University
Kierstin Hatt, University of Alberta
Sidney Ingerman, McGill University
Thomas Kuttner, University of New Brunswick
Michael Lebowitz, Simon Fraser University
Hanan Lutfiyya, University of Western Ontario
H.B. McCullough, University of British Columbia
Tara Milbrandt, University of Alberta
Lisa Mils, Carleton University
Esteve Morera, York University
Yuriko Furuhata, McGill University
Nassif Ghoussoub, University of British Columbia
Marwan Hassan, University of British Columbia
Liisa North, York University
Sandra Rein, University of Alberta
Dale Rolfsen, University of British Columbia
Milton Schlosser, University of Alberta
Nico Spronk, University of Waterloo
Alan Silverman, York University
Sarah Todd, Carleton University
Julian Vigo, Université de Montréal
Rabab K. Ward, University of British Columbia
Deborah Brock, York University
Kamala Kempadoo
Michelle Murphy, University of Toronto
Chet Singh, Centennial College
Mark Hunter, University of Toronto
John Valleau, University of Toronto
Mark Etkin M.D. , University of Manitoba
Edward Shaffer University of Alberta
Anne Meneley Associate Professor of Anthropology Trent University
Tai-Peng Tsai, UBC
Dorit Naaman, Queen's University
Ghassan Hamarneh, Simon Fraser University
Himani Bannerji, York University
Brett Wheler, University of Alberta
Ed Silva , University of Toronto
David Szablowski, York University
David Lyon, Queen's University
Leda Raptis, Queen's University
Amy Bartholomew, Carleton University
Mary-Jo Nadeau, Wilfrid Laurier University/Trent University,
Gary Kinsman, Professor of Sociology, Laurentian University
Linzi Manicom, University of Toronto
Lynne Cohen, University of Ottawa
Deborah Simmons, University of Manitoba
Gale Seiler, McGill University
Sherene Razack,, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Dr. Derek Hrynyshyn, McMaster University
Henry Heller , University of Mantitoba
Nick Dyer-Witheford, University of Western Ontario
Andrew Lugg, University of Ottawa
roberta buiani, York University
Norma Rantisi, Concordia University
Amanda Glasbeek, York University
Melanie Newton, University of Toronto
Nahla Abdo, Carleton University
Ariel Salzmann, Queens University
Nancy Thede, Université du Québec à Montréal
Joan Sangster, Trent University
Ana-Maria Seifert, Université du Québec à Montréal
Govind Rao, McMaster University
Lesley Wood, York University
James Penney Trent University
Elia Zureik, Queen's University
Dara Culhane, Simon Fraser University
Suzanne Lenon, University of Lethbridge
Alex Khasnabish, Mount Saint Vincent University
Jasmine Zine, Wilfrid Laurier University
Tareq Ismael, University of Calgary
Richard Bevis, University of British Columbia
Jacqueline Ismael, University of Calgary
Allan Greenbaum, York University
Meg Luxton, York University
Nadine Changfoot, Trent University
Joanne Naiman, Ryerson University
Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Simon Fraser University
Kajri Jain, University of Toronto
Yildiz Atasoy, Simon Fraser University
Victor Li, University of Toronto
Wendy Strachan, Simon Fraser University
Lara Campbell, Simon Fraser University
Don Sinclair, Simon Fraser University
Gary McCarron, Simon Fraser University
Deborah Dergous, Simon Fraser University
Michael Lebowitz, Simon Fraser University
Ena Dua, York University
Peter Kulchyski, University of Manitoba
Terry Heaps, Simon Fraser University
Kenneth Fish, Simon Fraser University
Abderrahman Beggar, Wilfrid Laurier University
David Cooke, York University
Carla Rice, Trent University
B.H. Yael, Ontario College of Art and Design
Trish Salah, Bishop's and Concordia Universities
Mohamed Hefeeda, Simon Fraser University
Martin Duckworth, Concordia University
Eugene McCann, Simon Fraser University
Ken Jalowic, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Vered Amit
Arlene McLaren, Simon Fraser University
Bruce Alexander, Simon Fraser University
Marina Morrow, Simon Fraser University
Lorraine Halinka Malcoe, Simon Fraser University
Alicia Sliwinski, Wilfrid Laurier University
Bonnie J. Fox, University of Toronto
Shana Calixte, Laurentian University
Hannes Lacher, York University
Alison Ayers, Simon Fraser University
Sam Gindin, York University
Gail Faurschou, University of Alberta
Sourayan Mookerjea, University of Alberta
Alan Rudrum, Simon Fraser University
Reza Nakhaie, University of Windsor
John Bogardus, Simon Fraser University
Amir Hassanpour, University of Toronto
Maneesha Deckha, University of Victoria
George Rigakos, Carleton University
A.C. Drainville Université de Laval
Jay Drydyk, Carleton University
Mihnea Panu, Wilfrid Laurier University
Doreen Fumia, Ryerson University
Kim Riegel, McMaster University
Jennifer Johnson, Laurentian University
Mohammad Elmallah, Wilfrid Laurier University
Ahmed Elmogy
Reem K. Al-Halimi, Wilfrid Laurier University
Christiane Wilke, Carleton University
Vera Szoke, Toronto
Mustafa Al-Sabawi, University of Western Ontario
Allan Davison, Simon Fraser University
Stephen Gill, York University
Jocelyne Couture, Université du Québec à Montréal
Martin Morris, Wilfrid Laurier University
George C. Comninel, York University
Kathy Wazana
Sanjukta Mukherjee, University of Toronto