Canada abstained Wednesday from a high-profile United Nations vote demanding that Israel end its 91裸聊视频渦nlawful presence91裸聊视频� in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank within a year.
The decision follows a shift in how Ottawa votes at the UN, and it alarmed a prominent Israel advocacy group while earning criticism from two Liberal MPs.
91裸聊视频淲e cannot support a resolution where one party, the State of Israel, is held solely responsible for the conflict,91裸聊视频� Canada91裸聊视频檚 ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, told the General Assembly.
The State of Palestine brought the non-binding motion, which passed 124-14; Canada was among 43 abstentions. The resolution was based on a non-binding ruling by the top United Nations court in July that said Israel91裸聊视频檚 presence in the Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end.
The motion pertained to Israel91裸聊视频檚 decades of occupation in the West Bank, as well as its war against Hamas in Gaza. It comes as the first anniversary of the war approaches and as violence in the West Bank reaches new highs.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, called the vote a turning point 91裸聊视频渋n our struggle for freedom and justice.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t sends a clear message that Israel91裸聊视频檚 occupation must end as soon as possible and that the Palestinian people91裸聊视频檚 right to self-determination must be realized,91裸聊视频� he said.
Israel91裸聊视频檚 UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, slammed the vote as 91裸聊视频渁 shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority91裸聊视频檚 diplomatic terrorism.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚nstead of marking the anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of all 101 of the remaining hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the music of the Palestinian Authority,91裸聊视频� Danon said.
Rae said Canada abstained despite agreeing that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territories, because the resolution calls for isolating Israel and contains language around boycotting the country, which he said will not lead to peace.
He said the violence in Israel and the territories it occupies is 91裸聊视频渁 conflict where everyone in this room knows that many other states and non-state actors are also directly involved.91裸聊视频�
While the resolution is not legally binding, the extent of its support reflects world opinion. There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council.
The resolution also demands the withdrawal of all Israeli forces and the evacuation of settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories 91裸聊视频渨ithout delay.91裸聊视频� And it urges countries to impose sanctions on those responsible for maintaining Israel91裸聊视频檚 presence in the territories and halt arms exports to Israel if they91裸聊视频檙e suspected of being used there.
In addition, the resolution calls for Israel to pay reparations to Palestinians for the damage caused by its occupation and urges countries to take steps to prevent trade or investments that maintain Israel91裸聊视频檚 presence in the territories.
Liberal MPs Anthony Housefather and Marco Mendicino said Canada should have voted against the 91裸聊视频渂latantly one-sided91裸聊视频� resolution, arguing the abstention doesn91裸聊视频檛 advance conditions for peace or adequately recognize Israel91裸聊视频檚 right to exist.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs argued that Canada on Wednesday violated a statement Rae91裸聊视频檚 delegation issued last November, which said Canada would vote down motions unfairly targeting Israel.
91裸聊视频淐anada reiterates the importance of a fair-minded approach at the United Nations and will continue to vote 91裸聊视频榥o91裸聊视频� on resolutions that do not address the complexities of the issues or seek to address the actions and responsibilities of all parties, including the destructive role of terrorist organizations like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah,91裸聊视频� the Nov. 9, 2023 statement reads.
That statement was issued as Canada abstained on a motion calling for an 91裸聊视频渋mmediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce91裸聊视频� in Gaza. Analysts noted Canada has generally voted against UN motions focusing on Israel, as the U.S. continues to do.
A month later, Canada broke with tradition by voting in favour of a UN motion seeking an 91裸聊视频渋mmediate ceasefire91裸聊视频� without specifically condemning Hamas.
Reacting to Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 vote, CIJA argued Canada is rewarding Hamas by abstaining and not voting against the motion. 91裸聊视频淐anada broke its promise and put political expediency before principle,91裸聊视频� the group wrote in a statement.
The International Court of Justice ruling that spawned the motion was a sweeping condemnation of Israel91裸聊视频檚 rule over the lands it captured during the 1967 war. It said Israel had no right to sovereignty over the territories and was violating international laws against acquiring the lands by force.
Rae argued Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 resolution 91裸聊视频済oes well beyond the ICJ advisory opinion.91裸聊视频�
The motion asks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to submit a report to the General Assembly within three months of putting the resolution in place, 91裸聊视频渋ncluding any actions taken by Israel, other states and international organizations, including the United Nations.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e fully abide by the decisions of the International Court of Justice,91裸聊视频� Guterres told reporters. 91裸聊视频淚 will implement any decision of the General Assembly in that regard.91裸聊视频�
Meanwhile, Canada laid sanctions Wednesday against people with 91裸聊视频渞oles in Hamas91裸聊视频檚 financial network91裸聊视频� as well as 91裸聊视频渆xtremist91裸聊视频� Israeli settlers.
