A Motion for Israeli-Hamas Ceasefire is Sure to Trigger Some Heated Discussion at Niagara Regional Council Meeting

St. Catharines Regional Councillor Plans to Table Motion at this Thursday’s, January 25^th Meeting of Regional Council

A News Analysis by Doug Draper, reporter/publisher, Niagara At Large

Posted January 22nd 2024 on Niagara At Large

Niagara, Ontario – It’s a gutsy motion and one that may very well trigger some lively, if not heated debate when members of Niagara Region’s Council meet in full session this coming Thursday.

The motion, to be tabled at the January 25th meeting by St. Catharines Regional Councillor Haley Bateman, asks the Council to echo calls that have been made by a growing number of governments around the world for an “immediate ceasefire” in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war so that adequate humanitarian assistance can be delivered to civilians suffering from the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

If approved in full, the motion (a copy of which is included below) would also see the Region calling on the Government of Canada to “remove the cap on the number of Palestinians who can seek refuge with their Canadian extended family members from the violence in the Gaza Strip” and take further steps to make it possible  for Palestinians now living in Canada to welcome into their homes family members now living in harm’s way.

Finally, the motion calls for the Niagara Regional headquarters to be lit this coming March 30^th in the colours (red, white, green and black) of the Palestine flag to show “solidarity and acknowledge the humanitarian crisis and all people struggling because of the violence and conflict in Gaza.”

Bateman’s motion is indeed a gutsy one because there are emotionally-charged and sometimes highly divisive voices on all sides of this issue.

There are those who choose to cast most, if not all Palestinian people as an enemy force following the shocking and murderous assault, this past October 7^th, on innocent Israeli men, women and children. There are also those who accuse anyone who criticizes the actions of the current Israeli government in the war that followed October 7^th attack by Hamas terrorists of engaging in or fomenting anti-Semiticism.

At the same time, there are many Jewish and Palestinian citizens in and outside of Israel and the Gaza Strip  who condemn the actions of leaders on both sides of the conflict.

Bateman words her motion in an effort to make clear that it “is not to be used to foster all forms of racism, anti-Semitism and targeting of Jewish people living in Niagara, their businesses, and religious institutions, or anti-Palestinian racism, or Islamophobia. …”

“Instead,” reads the motion, “it is a reason to show solidarity and compassion for those who are living in Israel and Palestine.”

Bateman noted that  in the wake of the October 7^th Hamas attack on Israel, Niagara Regional Councillor issued a statement condemning the attack and arranged to have the Region’s headquarters lit in the white and blue colours of the Israel’s flag.

“More than 100 days later,” added Bateman, “the Region has not made any statements about the incredible loss of life in Palestine.”

The intent of motion,” said Bateman, “is to support a ceasefire to get humanitarian access to all of those affected (on all sides). … I see people suffering and I think we have a responsibility to support the well-being of people.”

To date, at least 1,200 Israeli and 24,000 Palestinian civilians have so far lost their lives in this terrible conflict. The death toll includes a large number of children.

Not surprisingly, at the time of this posting, the Region’s agenda for this Thursday’s, January 25^th council meeting, which you can read by clicking on – https://pub-niagararegion.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=35503 ) lists a total of 17 individuals and representatives of groups across Niagara (and yes, that is quite a large number of delegations for any one issue) who plan to share their views on Bateman’s motion before councillors have their turn at debating and making any decision on it.

Here is the motion –

WHEREAS Niagara Regional Council offers support to all the Israeli and Palestinian Canadians living in Niagara.

WHEREAS UN officials and international aid agencies have repeatedly called for more humanitarian assistance, stating “the current resolution does not go far enough with the majority of the population of 2.3 million displaced, there is an imminent threat of famine, and the spread of diseases increases each day”. This includes Palestinians, Israeli’s and Lebanese.

WHEREAS the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, explained in 2022: “The occupation by Israel has been conducted in profound defiance of international law and hundreds of United Nations resolutions, with pushback from the international community.”

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

•    Niagara Regional Council supports the request for an immediate ceasefire to be binding via the United Nations Security Council which will allow for immediate humanitarian aid for all affected areas.
•    The Federal Government remove the cap on the number of Palestinians who can seek refuge with their Canadian extended family members from the violence in the Gaza Strip as many organizations who support those who have been so deeply affected have noted that that number is insufficient and not reflective of the extent of the crisis or our responsibility to as outlined in the United Nations Refugee Agency and the IRCC’s targets and the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. In addition, we also request the IRCC to provide the same equitable interventions for anyone leaving the conflict zones and Palestinian territories as those interventions that were awarded to the Ukrainian conflict efforts, including the removal of application fees, and social assistance when they arrive to Canada.
•    Understanding that the Federal Government’s current emergency measures allow only Canadian citizens and permanent residents to apply for visas for their family members we request that those living in Canada whose permanent residency applicants have not yet been processed, or who are here with refugee status, or who are asylum applicants who have not yet been adjudicated or are here with student visas be given the opportunity to apply to sponsor their family members.
•    Niagara Region light headquarters in the colours of the Palestine Flag (red, white, green, black) to show solidarity and acknowledge the humanitarian crisis and all people struggling because of the violence and conflict in Gaza on March 30 – LAND DAY
•    That Niagara Regional Council affirms that this motion is not to be used to foster all forms of racism anti-Semitism and targeting of Jewish people living in Niagara, their businesses, and religious institutions or anti-Palestinian racism, or Islamophobia.  Instead, it is a reason to show solidarity and compassion for those who are living in Israel and Palestine.
• That this motion be shared with local MP’s and MPP’s as well as Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre, Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine Israel, ROMA

Here is the statement Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley issued a few days after the October 7^th, 2023 attack on Israel –

 “Over the past several days, I have experienced feelings of shock and sadness after witnessing the horrific images coming out of Israel. I have been appalled to see such extreme and meaningless acts of violence perpetrated against so many innocent people, including children and infants.

“As we come to fully understand the scale and brutality of this violence, our hearts go out to the countless innocent individuals who have tragically lost their lives. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this senseless act of violence.

“I stand with countless other leaders to unequivocally condemn these attacks in the strongest terms. I also join with Prime Minister Trudeau in reaffirming Canada’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.

“To Niagara’s strong Jewish community, please know that we stand with you in this challenging time. As a symbol of our solidarity with Israel, and Niagara’s Jewish residents, I have ordered the lighting at Regional Headquarters to be in blue and white.”

• Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders