Our Work
Canadian Friends of Sabeel engages in ongoing programs and short-term projects to fulfill our mission of supporting the Palestinian struggle for justice and freedom and to build a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
Programs & Projects
CFOS runs several programs and projects that remain active over time.
For more information on our programs, email
info@friendsofsabeel.ca
Our Work
Delegations to Palestine/Israel
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CFOS encourages groups visits to the Holy Land in a way that meaningfully engages the local Palestinian Christian community, acknowledges Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories, and operates in a way that is consistent with international law. These delegations aim at building international networks of support by taking participants on 10-day visits to Palestine/Israel to meet and learn from Palestinians and Israelis working for a just peace.
Churches Forum
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Several times a year, CFOS hosts a gathering of representatives of the national churches and church organizations which have work related to Israel and Palestine. These gatherings are an opportunity for sharing information and mutual concerns, as well as engaging in joint advocacy initiatives.
For more information, contact info@friendsofsabeel.ca
James Graff Memorial Lectures
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James Allen Graff (1931-2005) was a professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto for many years. He was also a passionate advocate for Palestinian rights, speaking and writing widely to raise public awareness of the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. In 1984 he established the Near East Cultural and Education Foundation (Necef), which joined with CFOS in 2012. CFOS hosts an annual lectureship in honour of Professor Graff.
Robert Assaly Program
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Comming soon
Our Work
Advocacy Letters
From time to time, CFOS communicates with political leaders and government officials regarding Canada’s policies and practices related to Palestine and Israel. Sometimes we write our own letters; other times we sign joint letters prepared by partners and friends. Here are some recent examples:
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Ecumenical Letter to Foreign Minister Anita Anand
June 24, 2026
This ecumenical letter is a response to the request for advocacy by Kairos Palestine and the Mayor of Beit Sahour, Bethlehem regarding the building of an illegal Israeli settlement that would further strangle the largely Christian community of Beit Sahour. The letter presses Foreign Minister Anita Anand for an urgent meeting and demands that Canada take action to compel Israel to immediately dismantle and remove the settlements.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney
June 11, 2026
This CFOS letter is a response to the request for advocacy by the Bishop of the Evangelical Luthern Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. The bishop urged churches worldwide to contact their respective governments to advocate for the release of Natalie Abuddayah and three companions, all university students, who were abducted by Israeli military forces on June 2.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney
January 22, 2026
This CFOS letter, sent on January 22, 2026, urges the prime minister: 1) to implement sanctions on the State of Israel to oppose Israel’s illegal settlements and land confiscation in the West Bank, 2) to strongly resist the banning of 37 international humanitarian organizations providing aid to Gaza and the West Bank, 3) to stop all Canadian arms shipments to Israel (including those sent via the US), and 4) to resist U.S. President Trump’s invitation to the prime minister to join his Board of Peace, and to refuse any Canadian participation in the proposed International Stabilization Force.
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An Ecumenical Call to the Government of Canada for Urgent Action on Gaza
July 29, 2025
Just like many of our friends and partners, we are enraged, angered, and frustrated! Refusing to give up, CFOS, in partnership with the leaders of KAIROS Canada has cosigned a letter to Prime Minister Carney, urging the Government of Canada to act decisively to end the abhorrent suffering and violence in Gaza. In the letter, “Church leaders reiterate their calls to the government of Canada to use all economic, diplomatic and political tools available to uphold human rights and international law, including a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel.”
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Famine Advocacy Campaign
July 16, 2025
CFOS has created an advocacy campaign to hold Mark Carney to his promise. On May 20, Prime Minister Carney said in a statement that “if Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.” (See full statement here)
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Prime Minister Mark Carney
March 28, 2025
CFOS sent this letter to the prime minister, urging him to hold Israel to account for violations of international law with respect to the Palestinians and to strongly resist President Donald Trump’s call for ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of the people of Gaza.
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Director General, Canada Revenue Agency
August 8, 2024
CFOS sent this letter encouraging the CRA to publish its decision to revoke the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund Canada in the Canada Gazette as soon as possible. A notice was subsequently published in the Canada Gazette on August 10, 2024.
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Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie
February 5th, 2024
This was a civil society open letter to Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie, urging Canada to stop arms transfers to Israel.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
January 17, 2024
This was a CFOS letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, urging Canada: 1) not to challenge South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, naming Israel’s military action in Gaza as “genocide,” 2) to place an arms embargo on Israel, and 3) to remove limits to the number of Gazans, with family members in Canada, seeking refuge in Canada.
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Open Letter to Palestinian Christians
December 15, 2023
This was a response prepared by members of CFOS and the Canadian ecumenical comunity as a response to a Palestinian Call for Repentence.
Bi-weekly Bulletins
Our Work
