Canadian Parliament Condemns BDS

The Canadian Parliament passed a motion formally condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel by a resounding 229–51 vote, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported on Tuesday.

The text calls on the Canadian government to “condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both here at home and abroad.”

Speaking in favor of the motion last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said “the world will win nothing for boycotting Israel but depriving itself of the talents of its inventiveness.”

Canadian Jewish groups have given their support to the motion. In a statement last week, Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said: “The boycott movement does not contribute to peace and is not pro-Palestinian. It is discrimination based on nationality, and it harms both Israelis and Palestinians alike by driving the two sides further apart. The BDS movement is a fringe movement and is outside genuine peace efforts.”