Thu 21 November 2019:
Canada has been praised for a switch in policy on Palestine after voting in favour of a United Nations resolution endorsing Palestinian “right to self determination”.
In an immediate response to the US’ declaration that it considers Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land “legal”, Canada backed a resolution was adopted in support of Palestine on Tuesday during a session of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly.
Canada’s vote marks a serious departure for Canada, which has declined to support substantially the same resolution through 14 consecutive votes since 2006.
Commenting on the background of the vote, an official at Global Affairs Canada said the sudden change in stance sends a message that Canada does not agree with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s almost universally condemned assertion on Monday that Israeli settlements in Palestine are “not, per se, inconsistent with international law”.
Canada was among a total of 165 states voted in favor of the resolution. Only five voted against, and nine abstained from voting.
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