Canada continues shift toward Israel

A Canadian diplomat said Canada would vote against more of the U.N.’s annual litany of anti-Israel resolutions.

Last year Canada took a more pro-Israel stance on four of the annual package of 20 or so anti-Israel resolutions, and Deputy Ambassador Gilbert Laurin on Thursday told the General Assembly that Canada would vote against three more of the “divisive and unhelpful” resolutions this year. B’nai Brith Canada called the stance a “welcome first step.”

“Canada’s recognition of the injustice of the entrenched ritual of politicized anti-Israel resolutions ought to be part and parcel of a policy of zero tolerance on the part of our government for Israel-bashing at the U.N.,” said Frank Dimant, B’nai Brith’s executive vice-president. According to Shimon Fogel of the Canada-Israel Committee, Canada’s intention to sponsor a more balanced resolution next year “represents a substantial contribution to rehabilitating the U.N.”