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Canada’s vote on Palestinian self-determination

12-11-2019

A shocking surprise for Canadians after the Canadian government flip-flops on its UN General Assembly resolution on Palestinian Self Determination vote.

Last week, the Canadian Government surprised the world after breaking away from its traditional support for Israel and following U.S. when voting at the UNGA.

This week, Canadian government reversed its decision on Palestinian Self Determination, and voted along Israel and U.S to oppose Palestinian Self Determination.

Last week’s vote seemed as if Canada has found its moral compass again by breaking away from the unprincipled Harper Era tradition on Palestine-Israel conflict. Canadians were wrong to celebrate. Mr. Trudeau just told Canadians, oops Canada has once again lost its moral compass on Palestine-Israel conflict.

Resolution A/C.3/74/L.58 urges the international community to “support and assist the Palestinian people in the early realization of their right to self-determination.”

The Jerusalem Post reported, “Palestinians welcomed Canada’s decision to change its voting pattern at the UN in their favor by switching its traditional vote of “no” to a “yes” when it comes to the question of Palestinian self-determination.

“We wish to acknowledge the shift in position by Canada to a yes vote. We appreciated this principled position by the Canadian government,” a Palestinian envoy told the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee on Tuesday.”

“Canada is strongly committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” its representative told the UN.

“Canada’s vote today is a reflection of this long-standing commitment. Canada voted in support of this resolution, as it addresses the core issue for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said the representative, adding that “Canada strongly supports the international consensus on a two-state solution so that both sides can have a secure and prosperous future.”

So, after the sudden change of heart by the Canadian government, one must ask, what is going on?

Why the Canadian government is flip-flopping, an about face, on what it called earlier a “principled” stand?

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) issued a statement stating, “Each year, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) votes on about 15 resolutions in November-December that relate to Israel and Palestine.  When it provides an explanation for its anti-Palestinian votes, the Trudeau government suggests that the resolutions are “biased” or seek to “single out Israel.”  Yet the long list of votes is the result of the world’s frustration with Israel for refusing for decades to own up to or redress its human rights abuses against Palestinians.  Some consider Canada’s votes a type of “diplomatic cover” for Israel, and Canada’s voting puts it in a very small minority at the UN.  For example, on the vote “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine,” Canada’s vote placed it in a losing minority of seven countries, including Israel, the US, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru and Australia.  147 countries, including all of Canada’s European allies, voted in support of the resolution.”

Earlier CBC said, “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a recent vote by Canada to support a UN resolution endorsing Palestinian self-determination is not a shift in Canada's policy against singling out Israel for criticism on the international stage.”

CBC article added, “Canada has voted no for more than a decade on the resolutions, but Trudeau says Canada felt it had to change course on that one resolution, in order to counter threats to a two-states solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

"I hear you," Trudeau told those gathered around the menorah. "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.” CBC article quoted.

Since 2015, after forming the government, the Trudeau government had maintained Harper Era tradition of voting alongside with the U.S. on UNGA Resolutions critical of Israel.

According to CJPME “Each year, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) votes on about 15 resolutions in November-December that relate to Israel and Palestine.  When it provides an explanation for its anti-Palestinian votes, the Trudeau government suggests that the resolutions are “biased” or seek to “single out Israel.”  Yet the long list of votes is the result of the world’s frustration with Israel for refusing for decades to own up to, or redress its human rights abuses against Palestinians.  Some consider Canada’s votes a type of “diplomatic cover” for Israel, and Canada’s voting puts it in a very small minority at the UN.  For example, on the vote “Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine,” Canada’s vote placed it in a losing minority of seven countries, including Israel, the US, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru and Australia.  147 countries, including all of Canada’s European allies, voted in support of the resolution.”

“While CJPME was cautiously optimistic about Canada’s vote in support of Palestinian self-determination at the UN two weeks ago, it is now clear that this vote was a meaningless one-off.  Some have suggested that Canada’s vote on Palestinian self-determination was either 1) to enhance its chances of winning a security council seat at the UN next year, or 2) to send a message to Secretary of State’s Mike Pompeo disapproving of his announcement that the US would no longer condemn Israel’s illegal “settlements” as violating international law.  Both of these possible explanations are unimpressive.  For years, with its UN voting, CJPME has recommended that Canada consistently support international law, and treat all countries equally.  Unfortunately, the Trudeau government has repeatedly ignored this simple and reasonable approach.”

In a few days, the UN General Assembly will vote on an important resolution on Jerusalem. The resolution rejects Israel’s illegal attempt to annex all of Jerusalem, and condemns Israel’s attempts to prevent Palestinians from living or visiting the city. Canada’s vote on this resolution is more important than ever, especially now that Trump has cut ties with the Palestinians. Please tell Trudeau that Canada should vote FOR this resolution and SUPPORT a Jerusalem shared by ALL!

On behalf of CJPME we encourage our readers to visit their website and join the email campaign where thousands of Canadians have already asked Mr. Trudeau to support UN Resolution for Shared Jerusalem. www.cjpme.org
When it comes to Israel Palestine conflict. Canada has had a long tradition, since the times of Nobel Peace Laurette, Canadian PM, Mr. Lester B Pearson to be an “honest broker, and a peace maker.” That tradition shifted dramatically under PM Harper, and unfortunately, under Mr. Trudeau, remains unchanged.

Footnotes: Footnotes: Canada’s “honest broker, and a peace maker” tradition shifted dramatically under PM Harper, and unfortunately, under Mr. Trudeau, remains unchanged.

Article Source: ALAMEENPOST.COM