Canadians urged to exercise caution in Middle East ahead of protests

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland added her voice to a chorus of global leaders appealing for calm in the Middle East on Wednesday in the wake of the Trump administration’s move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Canadians in the region were being urged to exercise caution ahead of three days of planned protests against the U.S. announcement, which included the start of a plan to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, upending decades of the U.S. policy in the region.

By recognizing Israel’s claim to Jerusalem, Trump is seen by the Palestinians as siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the conflict. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem — which Israel captured in 1967 — for their capital.

But Trump declared it was time for a new approach to Mideast peace after decades of failure. Calling Jerusalem Israel’s capital, he argued, was merely recognizing the obvious.

“We cannot solve our problems by making the same failed assumptions and repeating the same failed strategies of the past,” the president said.

Freeland had been briefed on the announcement in a call Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, sources told The Canadian Press.

The two are also together this week at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where Tillerson has been getting an earful from world leaders over Trump’s move.

But the Liberal government said Wednesday the Canadian embassy will remain in Tel Aviv and its policy on Jerusalem won’t change. The city’s status can only be determined as part of peace talks, the government said.

“We are strongly committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side-byside in peace and security with Israel,” Freeland said. “We call for calm and continue to support the building of conditions necessary for the parties to find a solution.”

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh said it’s clear that Trump’s move is counterproductive and Canada should speak up.