Talking to Your Neighbour

Talking Points: 

It can be difficult to hold some of these conversations with our neighbors, friends or people who are near to our hearts. 

Here are some helpful talking points to help you have that conversation: 

• We agree that everyone has the right to live freely, in peace, safety and security. 
• Attacks on innocent civilians – including those committed by terrorist groups on Jewish citizens – are disgusting and reprehensible. There is no justification for those acts. They should be condemned in the strongest possible way. 
• (If asked about the history of the conflict): Palestinians and especially Palestinians in Gaza have not been able to live freely since the siege was laid on Gaza by Israel in 2007. Nothing enters or exits Gaza except through Israel’s approval. Their food, electricity and water is all controlled by Israel. We as Canadians need to do more to support peace and justice to make sure there is peace for everyone, whether you are Muslim or Jewish or Christian or of no faith at all.
• The dehumanization of those inside Gaza and Palestine has been troubling and appalling. Consider the following: “No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.” This promise, from Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, is a direct call for mass killing and forced removal of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.  
• This collective punishment to Palestinians is not new. It is fundamental to how Israel has treated Gaza for the past 17 years—indiscriminately bombing men, women and children in an endless cycle of violence, all the while maintaining an economic and material blockade. 
• Here in Canada, the Muslim community is facing a major upsurge in Islamophobic incidents. We need everyone to work together to end hate and stereotypes against our community.
• The only thing we need to do now is work towards peace.