National

Canada abstains from UN motion calling on Israel to end occupation of Gaza, West Bank

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Sep, 2024 04:07 PM

Canada abstained today from a high-profile United Nations vote demanding that Israel end its "unlawful presence" in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank within a year.

Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, told the assembly the motion was too one-sided to support, though he said Ottawa agrees that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territories.

This morning's non-binding vote passed 124-14, and Canada was among 43 abstentions.

The State of Palestine brought the motion to the UN General Assembly, and Israel says the vote amounts to "diplomatic terrorism."

The resolution is based on a July ruling by the International Court of Justice, which condemned Israel’s rule over lands it captured in 1967 by force, saying this violates international laws.

Last December, Canada stopped its decade-long policy of backing Israel in almost any United Nations vote over concerns about the lack of progress toward a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. Director of Civil Forfeiture claims 10 properties owned by alleged drug dealer

The B.C. government wants 10 properties in Prince George forfeited for their alleged use in a years-long drug trafficking operation. The province's Director of Civil Forfeiture claims in a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court that properties owned by Daniel Prediger should be handed over to the government because of their use in "unlawful activity."

B.C. Director of Civil Forfeiture claims 10 properties owned by alleged drug dealer

Surrey business targeted in shooting

Mounties in Surrey say a store was hit by gunfire on Thursday, the second time this week within the same business complex on 81st Ave and 128 Street. Police say officers found evidence of a shooting, but no one was injured and the business was closed at that time.

Surrey business targeted in shooting

Mayor says release of child sex offender Brian Abrosimo in Surrey is 'outrageous'

Surrey’s mayor says it’s "outrageous" that a sex offender who abducted and assaulted an 11-year-old girl in 2004 has been released in the city, which she says has more children per capita than anywhere in British Columbia. Surrey RCMP issued a public warning about Brian Abrosimo, 61, who they say is at high risk to reoffend after his release from prison on Thursday.

Mayor says release of child sex offender Brian Abrosimo in Surrey is 'outrageous'

Here's what the federal government's tight fiscal outlook could mean for pharmacare

Liberals and New Democrats appear to be inching closer to an agreement on proposed pharmacare legislation, but a national drug plan may be farther out of reach than ever after this week's federal fiscal update. The Liberals promised to table and pass the legislation by the end of the year as part of a supply-and-confidence deal, in which the NDP is supporting the minority government on key votes in exchange for progress on shared priorities.

Here's what the federal government's tight fiscal outlook could mean for pharmacare

Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars from feds to grow transit

Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars over the next few years and a more reliable funding model from the federal government in order to improve transit. Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, chair of the Mayors’ Council, says they have agreed on a plan to expand transit services to accommodate for population growth and put affordable housing within reach of transit.

Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars from feds to grow transit

Indo-Canadian physiotherapist faces additional sexual assault charges

Iraj Daneshvar was arrested on Thursday, and charged with two additional counts of sexual assault by the York Regional Police's Criminal Investigations Bureau, in conjunction with Sexual Assault and Crimes Against Children Unit.