Israel is criticized for recruiting on Canadian soil for its army
By Marie Vastel
Parliamentary Correspondant
A group of citizens are calling on Ottawa to intervene to stop what it alleges is the illegal recruitment of soldiers in Canada for the IDF. In a letter 
addressed to the Minister of Justice, David Lametti, and of which Le Devoir has obtained a copy, this more than one hundred signatories accuse the Israeli consulate in Toronto of acting as a “facilitator of this recruitment” and demands that its employees be prosecuted by Canadian justice.
University professors, authors, union representatives, private citizens and Palestinian rights activists argue that by issuing invitations to meet with representatives of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israeli Consulate in Toronto conducts recruiting for Israel’s army.
With photos in support, the group reports that such an invitation was issued on the consulate’s website in November 2019. The appeal stated, in Hebrew and English, that an « IDF representative is arriving to visit the consulate of Toronto. Those who are eager to enlist in the IDF or who have not fulfilled their duty under the Military Service Act are welcome to make an appointment. »
A search by Le Devoir on the consulate’s website revealed other similar invitations in 2014 and 2018.
The citizens’ group further reports that an IDF colonel also visited a denominational school in Toronto, « to talk about his experiences as a new recruit and as a senior commander. » Images of the event were posted on the consulate’s Instagram account in May 2019, according to screenshots attached to evidence forwarded to Minister Lametti.
The letter to the minister notes that the Canadian Foreign Enlistment Act prohibits recruiting or inducing a person to enlist « in the armed forces of a foreign state. »
« The Israeli Consulate in Toronto has repeatedly announced that it has an IDF representative available for appointments for anyone wishing to join the military – and not just for those who are required to do compulsory [military] service. » , deplores the letter sent to the minister on Monday. The letter also alleges that the IDF has « for years carried out programs in Canadian schools and community organizations aimed at enticing people in Canada to enlist, » through « presentations, in person and at a distance. ”
The signatories, who also include the philosopher Noam Chomsky and the co-founder of the rock group Pink Floyd, are calling for a « full investigation » and that, if their allegations are proven, « charges be brought against all those involved in the recruitment and ‘encouragement of recruitment in Canada for the IDF’. The targeted group includes the Consul General, the Deputy Consul and a third employee who were stationed in Toronto at the time of the alleged events.
The Consulate of Israel in Quebec took it upon itself to respond to the allegations. Consul General David Levy retorts that « these consular services that we provide are reserved for Israeli citizens and do not apply to non-Israelis who volunteer for the army. » Israel requires military service from its citizens, and any citizen living abroad must adjust their status after the age of 16 and a half. By giving them access to IDF representatives, the consulate claims it is providing « these services to help these Israelis avoid complications when they return to Israel. »
The Toronto denominational school involved in the complaint did not respond to Le Devoir’s requests for an explanation.
Divergent interpretations
The official complaint forwarded to Minister Lametti is signed by lawyer John Philpot, a member of BDS-Quebec, the co-founder of the group Palestinian and Jewish Unity, Montrealer, Bruce Katz, and Hamilton rabbi David Mivasair. The BDS movement refers to the « Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions » campaign against the Jewish state.
All three signatories fear that the Israeli consulate is in violation of the Foreign Enlistment Act because it prohibits the recruitment of Canadian nationals. The law does, however, provide an exception: the prohibition does not apply to « officials or consular or diplomatic agents in recruiting persons who are nationals of the countries they represent and not nationals of Canada. »
But although the Israeli consulate claims to only recruit individuals who are Israeli citizens, protesters believe that this prevents even the recruitment of citizens with dual Canadian and Israeli citizenship.
A former Canadian diplomat who served in Israel, however, does not have the same interpretation.
“If you have dual nationality, you are an Israeli citizen and therefore they have the right [to recruit you], under the exception to the law. But the invitation is not 100% clear as to whether they are also looking for nationals who are only Canadian citizens, in which case that would be inappropriate, ” notes this person, who prefers to remain anonymous to protect his new professional activities. “The situation is unclear. »
Costanza Musu, associate professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa, also has difficulty in commenting, as the invitation from the consulate is « ambiguous » since it does not specify who it is for. “At first glance, it would not seem like an act of active recruitment,” observes Ms. Musu, since the opinion of the consulate leaves it to individuals to request an appointment and make the proceedings themselves.
This kind of advice from a consulate to its citizens is not unusual, corroborates former Ambassador Gar Pardy. Canadian consulates do the same for their citizens abroad, notes one who was also head of consular services at the Department of Foreign Affairs. “What would not be legitimate is if this military officer were to talk generally with Canadians about the possibility of enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces. »
Consular officials enjoy a certain degree of diplomatic immunity, under international law. But their work must comply with Canadian law. What if they don’t? Mr Pardy dared not comment, noting that it would be up to the courts to decide this « gray area » of diplomacy.
Background information:
Minister Lametti’s comment on recruitment for the Israeli military can be viewed (7-minutes) here.
The letter and complaint can be viewed here.
This commentary looks at the history of Israeli military recruitment in Canada.
Adapted from: https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/moyen-orient/588065/armee-israel-se-voit-reprocher-de-recruter-en-sol-canadien
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