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Canadian Jewish groups blast country’s anti-Israel UN vote: ‘It stains Canada’s reputation’

“This vote reflects poorly on Canada’s record as a defender of democracy and justice,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada.

By World Israel News Staff

B’nai Brith Canada and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) registered their outrage that Canada maintained its vote in favor of an anti-Israel resolution at the U.N.

The U.N. General Assembly voted Wednesday in favor of a resolution regarding Palestinian self-determination and condemning anti-terror measures in Israel.

The resolution has been broadly criticized by the Jewish community as unfairly anti-Israel in nature. Canada was one of the 167 countries to support the North Korean-sponsored resolution.

“This vote reflects poorly on Canada’s record as a defender of democracy and justice. It stains Canada’s reputation,” said Michael Mostyn, 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.”

B’nai Brith wrote to Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, requesting that Canada not allow Israel to be unfairly targeted at the U.N.

“B’nai Brith rejects the contention that settlements are the core issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In our view, the core issue remains the rejection by Palestinian leaders and their supporters of Israel’s right to exist – and of the Jewish people’s legal right to sovereignty in their ancient homeland,” the group said in a statement.

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“We remain opposed to Palestinian attempts to internationalize the conflict, which have never achieved a positive result. Indeed, such attempts have been an end-run around bilateral talks,” said Brian Herman, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Government Relations.

“Rather than strengthening the peace process, this resolution will embolden hard-liners who refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist and to engage Israel in a meaningful way through negotiations.”

B’nai Brith called on the international community to end the “unconscionable practice” of rewarding terrorists and their families.

The FSWC issued a statement on Wednesday, saying it “is extremely disappointed in Canada’s decision to ratify its vote in favour of an anti-Israel resolution at the UN.

“Once again, Canada was one of 167 countries that voted in favour of the resolution titled “The right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,” which went to a final vote today by the General Assembly following last month’s preliminary vote. The resolution – which is co-sponsored by North Korea, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Egypt and the Palestine Liberation Organization – implies Israel is exclusively responsible for the Palestinian people’s self-determination.”

“Following its previous vote in favour of the biased resolution, Canada had the opportunity to reverse its decision and once against and with the democratic state of Israel as it continues to be unfairly targeted at the UN,” said FSWC president and CEO Avi Benlolo. “Canada is losing the moral high ground by voting against its democratic ally, Israel, alongside countries with poor human rights records like North Korea.”