Canada “is deeply concerned” about “decisions on settlements, demolitions, evictions”

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Marc Garneau Photo: Facebook Marc Garneau

On May 8, 2021 Marc Garneau, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement:

“Canada is following the situation in Jerusalem closely. We call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and for all sides to avoid any unilateral actions.

“Canada is committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

“As a close friend and ally of Israel, Canada is deeply concerned that recent decisions on settlements, and demolitions and evictions, including in Sheikh Jarrah, would negatively impact livelihoods and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution based on mutual respect for human rights and international law by all parties.

“Canada calls for renewed commitment to peace and security and, as always, stands ready to support efforts for a two-state solution.”

Background on the conflict in Sheikh Jarrah

On May 9, 2021 The Jerusalem Post reported:

The High Court of Justice delayed by possibly a month any movement on the pending eviction of four Palestinian families from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The postponement came after the Palestinian families filed a request demanding that Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit weigh in on the case…

Two lower court had upheld the Nahalat Shimon company’s ownership claim to the land, but the Palestinians had appealed to the HCJ, which had been due to decide Monday on whether to accept the appeal.

The property dispute is seen as a test case for some 28 Palestinian families in the neighborhood, who fled ares now located within sovereign Israel during the 1948 War of Independence, such as west Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa.

They relocated to east Jerusalem, which at the time was under Jordanian rule. Through a deal that included the United Nations, Jordan offered them homes on land previously owned by Jews if they would give up their refugee status.

But their property rights were never registered and two organizations retained their ownership rights, which has since been transferred to Nahalat Shimon.