Canada’s parliament voted on Monday night for a softened non-binding resolution that would call for the country to recognize a Palestinian state. The measure passed by a vote of 204 – 117.
The original proposal, introduced by the left-wing New Democratic Party, would have required Ottawa to "officially recognize the State of Palestine." This legislation would have made Canada the first G7 nation to establish such a diplomatic relationship.
The new motion was passed with last minute modifications by the governing Liberal Party, that changed the wording to confirm Canadian foreign policy as working towards "the establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution."
The first draft of the resolution also required the suspension of military transfers to the Jewish state, increased the number of visas for individuals from Gaza, prohibited the immigration of certain West Bank residents, supported South Africa’s efforts against Israel in the ICJ, and demanded an immediate unconditional ceasefire in the current warzone.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and most of his Liberal colleagues voted in support of the revised measure, while Conservative Party members rejected the action.
Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, released a statement on the effort saying, “The one-sided recognition of a Palestinian state rewards Hamas – a listed terrorist organization by the Government of Canada – for its sadistic attack on October 7th which was perpetrated with the intention of annihilating the State of Israel. Empowering terrorists will only evoke more bloodshed and jeopardize any peaceful resolution to the conflict."
