PM accused of breaking promise to stand by Israel
UN resolution over Palestinian territories
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was accused of reneging on a commitment to stand with Israel after Canada voted Wednesday for an anti- Israel resolution at the United Nations.
Canada faced an angry backlash in November when it first voted in support of a controversial UN resolution co- sponsored by North Korea, Zimbabwe and others. It condemned Israel as the “occupying power in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem” and said Israel’s actions impede the right of the “Palestinian people to self-determination.”
Last week, Trudeau responded to concerns from the Jewish community, the former U.S. ambassador to the UN, as well as from within his own caucus, when he said, “Canada remains a steadfast supporter of Israel and Canada will always defend Israel’s right to live in security.”
Speaking at a menorah lighting on Parliament Hill, he said, "I understand that many of you were alarmed by this decision. The government felt that it was important to reiterate its commitment to a two-states-for-two-peoples solution at a time when its prospects appear increasingly under threat.”
But on Wednesday, Canada supported a second and final vote on the resolution.
The Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith vented its outrage after the vote was cast.
“This vote reflects poorly on Canada’s record as a defender of democracy and justice. It stains Canada’s reputation,” said Michael Mostyn, the chief executive officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “Just last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured the Jewish community that Canada would ‘ always defend Israel’s right to live in security.’ Voting for this resolution is not in line with that commitment.”
UN Watch, an organization that monitors the United Nations, launched a petition after last month’s vote urging Canada to change its mind. It collected nearly 40,000 signatures as Wednesday’s final vote was cast and referred to Canada’s decision as a “Faustian bargain.”
Hillel Neuer, director of UN Watch, said the resolution condemned Israel’s security barrier but it “omits to mention that it was built in response to the Second Intifada which killed or wounded 8,341 Israelis by Palestinian suicide bombings, suicides, stoning, stabbings, lynchings, rocket and other methods of attack.”
He accused Trudeau of “standing with the jackals” by voting yes.
The Canadian vote is a break from its recent practice of uniformly voting with Israel on these types of motions, going back to 2005.
The Conser vatives also ripped into Trudeau for “currying favour for a few votes” in the race to win a UN Security Council seat.
“This vote by the Trudeau Liberals is a betrayal of our ally and partner and a sad admission that the Liberals will do anything to shore up their failing Security Council bid,” said a Conservative news release issued after the vote.
The campaign for the Security Council seat has been important to the Liberal government and the recently released mandate letter for Foreign Affairs Minister François- Philippe Champagne directed him to “lead Canada’s United Nations Security Council campaign” as one of the top priorities.
The campaign faces long odds, though, with both Norway and Ireland campaigning hard for the seat. Both countries have been lobbying for the seat for more than a decade, with Canada only announcing its intentions in 2016. Ireland will likely be the EU favourite, while the Norwegians will get points for out-sized foreign aid contributions each year.
In early December, former U. S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Canada voting for the resolution was an example of “cultural corruption playing out in real time” and was “trading its integrity” for a seat on the Security Council.
“This is a resolution that Canadian governments for years have voted against,” said Haley. “I speak from experience when I say the United Nations presents many opportunities to strike a deal with the devil.”
Canada has a long history of supporting Israel at the UN and, going back more than a decade, it was part of a small group of countries that saw themselves fending off “Israel-bashing” at the organization. On Wednesday, Canada was one of 164 countries supporting the motion, while the U. S., Israel, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Nauru opposed it.