Who we are

An association founded in 1976

Amities Quebec-Israel (Quebec-Israel friendships) is a non profit corporation under the authority of the third part of the Corporation Law.

 

History of the Association

In 1976, at the time that Amities Quebec-Israel was founded, the first board of directors consisted of:

Rosario-Gilbert Lemieux,
Lucienne Robillard,
Jacques LaSalle,
Maurice Elmaleh.

 

Objectives of the Association

Ever since its rebirth as a nation, every day has brought new tidings of the undertakings of those who resolutely want the State of Israel destroyed.

As early as the Sixties, many Quebecois were stunned by the strength and the courage with which the people of Israel, despite the constant threats to their survival brought about by Arab neighbors, continued tirelessly to refashion their ancestral homeland into a viable country with its political, administrative, cultural, and economic institutions complete.

And those same seeds that gave rise to the quiet revolution in Quebec, saw evolve a new generation of Quebecois, yearning to rediscover the land of Israel and its people, in order to draw forth inspiration of faith, love, and determination, which in turn would generate an awareness and recognition for the plight of the Quebecois on both the Canadian and international scene.

And in the spirit of cultural exchange, we equally aspire to make Quebec known to Israelis: her history, her people, her culture, her rich ethnic diversity, her economy, and finally her proverbial hospitality.

Today, faced with rising anti-Semitism, due mainly to the almost systematic misinformation on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict conveyed by our written and spoken media, our civil as well as democratic morality is being challenged. And thus, we must answer, and break the silence, for failing to do so would render us guilty, accessories to the very propaganda we wish to quell. We have created an Internet website in order to facilitate a response to these pressing challenges.

 

Status of the Association

The Association is open to all Quebecois, friends of Israel and of democracy, whatever their political inclination, who are willing to strive to reinforce the bonds between the people of Quebec and the people of Israel.

 

Administration

The Amities Quebec-Israel Association is managed by a board of directors, which is chaired by Jean-Marie Gelinas.