West Bank village sues Canadian companies; upcoming panel will discuss case

This past July, the residents of the West Bank village of Bil'in filed a lawsuit in a Quebec court seeking damages from 2 Montreal companies accused of building housing units in an Israeli settlement on occupied Palestinian land. The landmark case is believed to be the first instance of Palestinians seeking legal recompense in a Canadian court of law for Israeli settlement activity.

The non-profit Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) will host a 3-day series of panel discussions in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa (open to the public for $5), September 25-27, 2008.

From the CJPME website:
"The two companies [Green Mount International Inc. and Green Park International Inc.] are accused of building condominiums on Palestinian land under Israeli military occupation: actions that are strictly illegal under international, Canadian and Quebec law. This unprecedented case will go before the Court later this Fall.

"CJPME will host a dynamic panel discussion with the Canadian lawyer for Bil'in Village, Mr. Mark Arnold, and other distinguished panellists as they explore the case and its implications for Canada, Israel and the Palestinians."

Dates and Venues:
Sept 25: Toronto - Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St., 7:30pm
Sept 26: Montreal - New Chancellor Day Hall, McGill University, 7:30pm
Sept 27: Ottawa - Sandy Hill Community Centre, 250 Somerset St. E., 7:30pm

For more background on the story, check out this website devoted to the village of Bil'in; or see this article from the Toronto Star.