Oppose Israeli Attempts to Provoke a Regional War in West Asia

On April 1, 2024 Israel attacked Iran, bombing its embassy compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing 16 people including seven top military officers. This attack clearly violated diplomatic norms and international treaties, including the Vienna Convention and Article 2.4 of the UN Charter. In addition, the attack on the embassy in Damascus violated Syria’s territorial integrity, marking a serious regional escalation in the genocidal war on Palestine.

There was an attempt by the Security Council to condemn the Israeli attack but the U.S., UK, and France vetoed the resolution. Canada was silent regarding this serious violation of international law. Had the “international community” and the Security Council of the United Nations vigorously condemned the Israeli aggression, it is possible that further escalation might have been prevented.

Iran vowed a response to the Zionist aggression and launched an aerial attack on Israeli military targets on April 13/14. News agencies reported that Iran launched three waves of drone, cruise and ballistic missiles, many of which were intercepted by Israeli, UK, U.S. and Jordanian air defences. Iran’s response to Israel’s flagrant attacks on its diplomatic compound marks the first time that the Islamic Republic has directly attacked the Zionist state.

As Palestinian resistance has fought the Israeli Occupation Forces to a standstill in Gaza, it has become apparent that Israel wants to expand the war on Palestine into a regional war against Iran in the hope that the U.S. will enter the conflict. The consequences of a regional war would be disastrous for the peoples of the Middle East and could lead to a nuclear strike by Israel on Iran.

While the Canadian government response to the Zionist attack on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus was completely absent, Trudeau immediately condemned the Iranian action repeating the worn out phrase that “Israel has the right to defend itself”. Such one-sidedness does not advance the cause of peace.

The Canadian Peace Congress unequivocally condemns the Trudeau government for not speaking out strongly against the Israeli attack in Damascus on April 1, 2024. It is imperative to immediately halt the escalation of the war on Palestine into a regional confrontation involving Iran and Israel, and perhaps other states as well.

We repeat our call for an immediate, permanent and sustainable ceasefire to end the genocidal war against Palestine. We reiterate our demand that humanitarian aid be allowed to enter Gaza unhindered by Zionist forces. Finally, we call for an end to Western support of Israel, and for the removal of all Canadian and other Western sanctions against Iran.

No escalation of the war against Palestine!
Ceasefire now!

Issued by the Executive, Canadian Peace Congress

April 14, 2024