Thank MPs who refused to reward Hamas and change longstanding foreign policy
Thank MPs who refused to reward Hamas and change longstanding foreign policy
On March 18, an amended version of the New Democratic Party (NDP)’s non-binding Canada's actions to promote peace in the Middle East motion passed in the House of Commons.
It was a disappointing result, but we must acknowledge and take pride that our determined, strong, vocal stand was instrumental in ensuring the most egregious of the motion’s clauses – the unilateral and immediate recognition of a Palestinian state – was in the end cut from the motion, preventing a worst-case scenario that would have gone against decades of Canadian foreign policy.
More than 30,000 Jewish Canadians and our allies mobilized against the NDP’s motion, sending, in only a few days, a staggering 900,000 emails to Members of Parliament in addition to thousands of phone calls to MPs’ offices – and it worked. 117 MPs voted against the motion and, by forcing the amendments removing the unilateral recognition clause and adding the call for the release of all hostages and demand that Hamas lay down its arms, we prevented the government from completely caving to the will of an extreme fringe and fully turning its back on Israel.
This was moment of truth for Canada’s leaders and, as a community, we must take note of those who voted against our allies in Israel, ignoring the concerns of Jewish Canadians – just five months after the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
More importantly, we must acknowledge and share our gratitude for those whose moral clarity and leadership led them to stand with Israel and the Jewish community.
Please help us thank the 117 MPs, including Pierre Poilievre's entire Conservative caucus, who voted “NO” to rewarding Hamas and “NO” to changing Canada’s longstanding foreign policy.
Let them know that their principled stance on the issue has been recognized – by you and the entire community.
