Canada Explains Its Support for Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire
Canadians are thankful that Canada changed its position at the United Nations and voted in favour of the resolution adopted by a large majority of countries on December 12 in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza. The majority are nonetheless aware of Canada's duplicity and that its position in support of Israel includes the discrimination, violence and acts of genocide of the apartheid state against the Palestinians and this has not changed. Canada preserves its position in support of Israel and its aim to wipe out Hamas which it portrays as as a terrorist organization, but cites humanitarian concerns as the reason for changing its stand. This is what should have done from day one, rather than continuing to repeat that Israel has the right to defend itself but should exercise restraint to protect civilians. Canada continues to remain silent about Israel's aim to wipe out the Palestinians and create a Greater Israel without Palestine. It feebly repeats that Israel can dictate who will rule Gaza and the like, which nobody believes is in the least democratic.
"From the very beginning we have said that Israel has the right to defend itself," Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters before the General Assembly vote. "How Israel defends itself matters," she said. "What is unfolding before our eyes will only enhance the cycle of violence. This will not lead to the durable defeat of Hamas," Joly said, adding that a ceasefire cannot be "one-sided." Hamas must lay down its arms and release the remaining hostages it captured on October 7, she said.
Canada's Ambassador to the UN Bob Rae told CBC News Network's Power & Politics that Canada backed the resolution due to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
"The status quo in the fighting is unsustainable from a humanitarian perspective. From the point of view of what is happening to people, it is simply unsustainable," Rae said.
For the full joint statement by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand issued on December 12 to "explain" their vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, click here.
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 30 - December, 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS53302.HTM
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