National

Canada joins EU, Britain, others decrying 'extremist settlers' violence in West Bank

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Dec, 2023 11:14 AM

Canada is one of 14 countries that issued a statement of concern over violence in the West Bank, calling on Israel to do more to stop "extremist settler" violence against Palestinians.

The United Nations says violence in the Israel-occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank has risen at an unprecedented rate since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants prompted Israel to bombard the Gaza Strip.

Armed groups living in Israeli settlements, deemed illegal under international law, have attacked Palestinians hundreds of times and forced more than 1,200 to leave their homes.

Canada joined the European Union and 13 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and France, in issuing a statement on Friday saying that Israel's lack of action to protect Palestinians and "prosecute extremist settlers" has created "an environment of near-complete impunity."

Israel's embassy in Ottawa was not immediately available for comment on Monday, but has previously said Israel does everything possible to respond to violence in the West Bank.

Britain and the United States have recently imposed travel bans on extremist Israeli settlers.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Can Canadian downtowns find new purpose in a post-office era?

Kay Matthews doesn't mince words when asked about the state of businesses fighting to survive in downtown cores across Ontario. The experiences in Ontario's cities are echoed across Canada, as downtowns grapple with high vacancy rates, the post-pandemic work culture and the prospect that crowds of office workers may never return in full.

Can Canadian downtowns find new purpose in a post-office era?

Housing dominates B.C. legislative session with next election less than a year away

The end of the fall legislative session comes less than a year away from B.C.'s expected election, and about three months before the New Democrat government's tabling of its February budget. Finance Minister Katrine Conroy signalled this week it will post a multibillion-dollar deficit and projects economic growth below one per cent.

Housing dominates B.C. legislative session with next election less than a year away

2 min court silence in Ibrahim Ali trial

The B.C. Supreme Court first-degree murder trial of Ibrahim Ali fell silent for two full minutes as Crown attorney Daniel Porte neared the end of his closing arguments. Porte was illustrating how long it would have taken Ali to strangle the 13-year-old girl he's accused of killing in a Burnaby, B.C., park six years ago, saying Ali would have had to apply "consistent and sustained" pressure.

2 min court silence in Ibrahim Ali trial

150 overdose deaths in October

A statement from the coroners' service says in October alone 189 people died from overdoses, which is more than six deaths a day. It is also the 37th consecutive month where at least 150 people died from illicit overdoses.

150 overdose deaths in October

Surrey lifeguard charged with sexual interference

Mounties in Surrey are advising the public after an investigation led to sex offence charges against a 24-year-old man. Police say the man was a lifeguard at the City of Surrey Recreation Centre and has been charged with sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and luring a child.

Surrey lifeguard charged with sexual interference

B.C. files application for Canada's first unexplained wealth order, minister says

British Columbia's solicitor general says the government has filed the first-ever application to secure an unexplained wealth order in Canada. Mike Farnworth says the notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court is the start of a series of similar applications, which are powerful tools that "put those engaging in illegal activity on notice."