OTTAWA—Members of Parliament have approved a dramatically altered version of an NDP motion that had called on the federal government to “officially recognize the state of Palestine.”
The amended version of the non−binding but highly symbolic motion instead urges Canada to “actively pursue” the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two−state solution — aligning with Canada’s existing policy.
The New Democrats had introduced a motion that called on the Liberals to recognize Palestinian statehood, among other measures.
But an 11th−hour amendment to the motion softened it dramatically, much to the dismay of the Opposition Conservatives.
Their objections overruled, both the amendment and the new motion passed by a margin of 204−117.
Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a vocal critic of his own party’s handling of the conflict, voted against both, as did former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino.
