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 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.
Freeland had been briefed on the announcement in a call Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, sources say. The government said 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, it said.