Canada's UN vote on Israel criticized as departure from past position
Canada joined 148 other countries in voting in favour of a United Nations resolution that calls for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza, despite opposition to the motion from the U.S. and Israel.
The vote Thursday took place days after Ottawa imposed sanctions against two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers for 'inciting violence against Palestinians' in the West Bank, in a rare rebuke to an allied country.
It's another example of how Canada's policy toward Israel appears to be shifting under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took office in March.
A major Jewish-Canadian lobby group condemned the Canadian government's vote, saying it marked a significant departure from Ottawa's previous position at the United Nations.
'The resolution makes no demand for Hamas to disarm or be excluded from Gaza's future. It ignores Israel's right to self-defence, dismisses its legitimate security concerns, and says nothing of the existential threat posed by a genocidal terrorist group,' the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) noted in a statement.
CIJA noted that last September, when Justin Trudeau was still prime minister, Canada abstained from a similar UN resolution vote on the grounds, according to the Department of Global Affairs, that Canada could not 'support a resolution where one party, the state of Israel, is held solely responsible for the conflict.'
The Jewish-Canadian group argued that Canada's vote will only embolden Hamas, the Palestinian militant group fighting Israel. Hamas is designated as a terrorist group by Ottawa.
Canada, Western allies sanction two Israeli lawmakers for incitement of 'extremist violence'
The resolution also called for the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unrestricted access for the delivery of desperately needed food to 2 million Palestinians. The vote in the 193-member General Assembly was 149-12, with 19 abstentions.
Speaking before the vote, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon vehemently opposed the resolution. He denied that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, calling the accusation 'blood libel,' and insisted that aid is being delivered.
Experts and human-rights workers say hunger is widespread in Gaza and that Palestinians are at risk of famine if Israel does not fully lift its blockade and halt its military campaign, which it renewed in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas.
Ottawa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations in New York, told the General Assembly Thursday that the Canadian government 'profoundly regrets' that the resolution 'does not with explicit language, condemn Hamas's horrific terrorist attacks on October the 7th, 2023, in which over 1,200 people were killed' in Israel. He said Hamas's taking of hostages, 'many of whom were killed, still remain in captivity, and is entirely unacceptable to us and frankly, I think, to this assembly.'
Mr. Rae said he is sorry that an amendment could not be made to the resolution, adding that Canada continues to condemn Hamas and 'it is clear that Hamas must disarm and that the organization cannot have any role to play in the future governance of Gaza.'
Thursday's vote also comes ahead of a UN conference next week that aims to reinvigorate an international push for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The United States has urged countries not to attend.
NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said voting for the resolution is the 'bare minimum' Canada should be doing to help Gaza. She said Ottawa should be suspending its free-trade agreement with Israel, take more action to end all weapons trade with Israel and recognize the state of Palestine.
Asked about the criticism of the Canadian government from CIJA, Ms. McPherson said the group 'seems very out of touch' on some things. 'There are children that are dying right now of hunger.'
With reports from the Associated Press and Reuters
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