Those who attended the candlelight vigil heard poems written by Palestinians and the names of journalists killed in Gaza.
About 50 people held a candlelight vigil outside town hall tonight before asking Tantramar council to write a letter to the prime minister calling for Canadian intervention to help end the war in Gaza.
The call for Canada to act was included in a petition that Sarah Kardash of the Sackville Ceasefire Coalition presented to council.
“I am grateful to live in a community with so many people of conscience,” she said referring to the 253 people who had signed it.
“As a Jewish member of the coalition, I am horrified that Israel is weaponizing the deaths of Israeli citizens on October 7 to fuel a genocidal war against Palestinians. In just over 90 days, 30,000 Palestinians have been killed when accounting for those presumed dead under the rubble. This includes 12,000 children,” she said.
“From my own people’s history, I have learned that we find safety in solidarity, that never again means never again for anyone and that it is my duty to denounce genocide wherever it occurs. I insist that criticism of Israel is not anti-semitic, and refuse to stand by while Israel commits war crimes in my name as a Jew.”
‘Necessary first step’
Sarah Kardash of the Sackville Ceasefire Coalition
Kardash said that her group welcomes Canada’s vote at the United Nations on December 12th calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, but only as a necessary first step.
“Canada must utilize all economic and diplomatic means at its disposal to achieve an end to the current atrocities,” she added.
“Canada should, for example, end arms sales to Israel and support South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice invoking the Genocide Convention,” she said.
“A ceasefire is urgently needed to end the air strikes and slaughter, allow unobstructed entry of aid into Gaza, and ensure the safe return of hostages and political prisoners. The time for Canada to decisively intervene is now.”
Kardash ended her five-minute presentation with a question:
“Is there a councillor here tonight willing to put forward a motion to write a letter to Justin Trudeau urging him to take concrete actions to ensure a ceasefire is enacted, respected and enforced?”
Allison Butcher was the only councillor to respond.
“When I saw that this was on the agenda, I thought, well, of course ceasefire, but what does a municipality in the wilds of Canada do about that,” Butcher said.
“So I really thank you for giving us a clear direction for something that we as a municipality in Canada can do that looks directed and hopefully effective.”
Kardash said later that although she was disappointed that none of the councillors responded by putting forward a motion, she was happy about Butcher’s positive comment.
“She seems to understand the issues and understand why it’s appropriate for a municipal government to be acting on this,” Kardash said.
“I look forward to following up with her for further discussion about a motion.”
Maybe if Hamas hadn’t gone on an orgy of killing and raping, we wouldn’t be here?
Maybe if Israel wasn’t committing genocide we wouldn’t be here?
Marika, history didn’t start on Oct 7. It was preceded by 75+ years of Israeli apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and occupation. As well as a 16-year illegal blockade on Gaza. Anyone concerned about the killing of 1000+ Israelis must also be concerned about the killing of 30,000+ Palestinians. Israel’s response to Oct 7 has been unimaginably disproportionate and cannot be described as self defense. It is collective punishment, a war crime. Cruel and inhumane. Further, under international law, as an occupying power, Israel is obligated to ensure the basic needs of Gaza’s civilian population are met. Regarding the rape allegations, there are serious doubts about the alleged mass rape claims and still no reliable evidence to substantiate the heinous allegations. Israeli police are having difficulty locating victims or witnesses. Of course, allegations should be investigated and perpetrators held accountable. I encourage everyone to seek information from sources other than mainstream media – Al Jazeera English and Democracy Now! are two options.
Of course history didn’t start on the 7th.
There was however, on the 7th, a ceasefire in place. A ceasefire being what you think that there should now be.
Hamas violated it by engaging in an orgy of murder and rape.
Clearly, a ceasefire doesn’t work very well, and another solution is in order.
Almost two decades prior, there had been an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. That didn’t work either.
I can’t say that the current Israeli solution will work better in the long term, but it’s unarguable that it’s time that they try a different approach.
The current Israeli solution of genocide, you mean?! Or perhaps they could try lifting the illegal 16-year military siege and blockade on Gaza instead. Here’s a breakdown of the year before Oct 7: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2023/11/24/countdown-to-genocide/
In effect you are saying that you approve of the Israeli government’s ‘different approach’ of disproportionate murder of thousands of civilians, including women and children, displacement of millions of people, and the almost total destruction of their homes. You should check out some of the comments by Bibi and other Israeli government ministers and military officials who openly speak about their goal of getting rid of the ‘human animals’ completely.
Sarah already provided you with some alternative news sites where you can find some less biased reporting than you’ll find on the MSM, and there are other commentators you can check out like Noam Chomsky, Max Blumenthal, Aaron Mate (a Canadian), Katie Halper, and Glenn Greenwald (who are all Jewish), for more critical reporting and analysis of the war crimes being committed by the Israeli government. As these commentators have stated, being critical of the policies of the Israeli government does not equate to anti-semitism. Perhaps you would call them self-hating Jews, as they have all been called in the past by supporters of the Israeli government. I hope that your outlook will change after checking out sources like these.
Marika, you’ve got some reading to do hun. Stop embarrassing yourself.
The moment I saw the mask, I knew you shouldn’t and couldn’t be taken serious.
You and your anti-Semitic group should do us all a favor and go away. Standing on the backs of Palestinians does not show nor prove your a good person. Its quite the opposite. Please take your words and yourself somewhere else.
Its time for Mount Allison to take note of the number of there faculty who support comments like the ones that Kardash spits. Take notice what has happened south of us!
Can you explain to me how a Jewish person can be anti-semitic, or are you of the persuasion that calls Jewish people who criticize the criminal policies of the Israeli government ‘self hating’ Jews?
In your comment ‘take notice of what has happened south of us’, are you referring to the American government’s continued, uncritical support of the Israeli government’s war crimes, and its vetoing of UN calls for an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering?
Ken. My colleagues should be free to say whatever they want about the conflict, even acknowledging the hyperbole, half-truths, and bias that this often entails. Bear in mind, though, that recently over 40 members of the MTA Faculty Association, including three recent MAFA Presidents and seven University Department Heads, demanded immediate change to the Union’s Constitution after the MAFA Executive went rogue and put out a totally biased statement that purported to speak for all of the members.
The MTA Faculty, like citizens of Sackville, like Canadians, hold different views on this conflict. We are lucky to live in a place where this diversity of thought is allowed.
Many of my colleagues choose to wear masks. So what? Why does their personal choice offend you? Some are immunocompromised while some care for those who are immunocompromised. The public health guidance is clearly supportive of their choice. I do research in Japan where, long before Covid 19, masks were fairly common and a recognized public health measure. That they have become a culture war symbol here is just plain bizarre.
Stick to what you know. And also let some of your U13s affiliate.
The moment I read your first sentence I knew you couldn’t and shouldn’t be taken serious. Wow, how sad.
I would also recommend France24 English for their coverage of this war. They also feature regular articles on ‘Truth or Fake’, dissecting fake news.
https://www.france24.com/en/tag/hamas-attack-on-israel/
All the dark we don’t want to see as caught up with our sunny ways. War is a criminal event and once started the side that plays the dirtiest wins. Since World War Two there are no innocents. A “community that has a conscience” (Judeo-Christian). “horrified that Israel is weaponizing the deaths”, ( Raping women to death, and baking or burning babies) Only Hamas shared their pogrom on mass media. The sanitized western media did not share those images but almost immediately there was a worldwide anti Israel out cry. It being not so long after the murder of George Floyd and the outrage that flashed around the world and the kneeling of the Prime Minister in solidarity of the taking of a single human life.
Nothing is easier than people living in a unicorn world of purity, freedom and the joy of innocence to call for a cease fire after Israel retaliates after years of having rockets launched into their country, and condoned by the UN which knows school and hospitals are the launch pads. Some family and friends on a business trip witnessed the Iron dome defense designed to meet daily threats, but not the thousands of rockets. On May 30th 1972 I just narrowly missed the Lode Airport Massacre . Suicide bombings, hijackings of airplanes, dumping seniors in wheelchairs into the sea off cruise ships. It’s quite something to see a mother with a baby under one arm and an a Uzi slung over the shoulder. In Canada there was The FLQ Crisis in which I thought the government of the day acted disproportionally and invaded Quebec, after all only two mailboxes were blown up with the loss of a hand, and later a single life.
Well people when one sides makes it clear they want you all dead, sitting down at the table and negotiating is not going to happen. It would be a miracle after a bitter divorce don’t you think. The triumph of hope over experience, eh!
Besides the Middle East must have a record for cease-fires. So if this is the road to peace it should be Utopia instead of the ongoing tragedy 32 warring states practicing Democide in what is called the ring of fire. Where’s the outrage???? Estimates 32 times 100 000 deaths plus per conflict and more coming.
To late in the day. Third World War is under away the only heroes are the pennants on lamp posts a distance reminder that the Lights went out 110 years ago. Soldiers i Tantramar knew how many casualties they inflicted on civilians in Normandy, and later the liberation of Holland where civilian casualties inflicted by us are estimated to be 300 000. This is not something that makes you feel good about what had to be done.. The Dutch appreciated that people from a country so far away came to help them. Maybe someone should ask the participants what they would like. We know that the citizens of Israel want to give Benjamin Netanyahu the boot at the next election, but with only one ally the Americans covering their back there only friend is “Bibi”.
Protests do start at home . But I don’t see any brave souls here to risk their reputation to surround city hall and demand the resignation of council if all the customs and practices that were removed are not restored. Lets start with just couple of issues. 1. Transparency. 2. Citizen and Councilor input through committees, and identifying what if any limitations there are on the Mayor and CEO. Clean your own house before you tell anyone that they have to fight for their lives with a hand tied behind their back.
Our veterans are in reality treated like the Greek hero Ajax. Thanks a lot but…..