Headline Roundup • March 20th, 2024
Canada Votes to Halt Arms Exports to Israel
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Canada’s House of Commons passed a motion to cease future arms exports to Israel.
The Details: The resolution was initially introduced by the New Democratic Party (NDP), headed by Jagmeet Singh, and was approved with a vote of 204-117. The motion stipulates that Canada will “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada’s arms export regime and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas.” While current arms contracts will be honored, the ban applies to future sales. The decision followed concerns about “lethal military sales to Israel during the conflict.”
For Context: Canada has approved approximately $21 million in arms permits to Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks, but has not approved any since Jan. 8. Permits issued before Jan. 8 will be honored.
Key Quotes: Singh stated that the “fundamental changes that we want were to make sure that there was an end of the sale of arms to Israel.” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz showed his disapproval of this decision, arguing that, “History will judge the Canadian government's current move harshly.”
How The Media Covered It: The Daily Caller (Right bias) identified Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a “leftist” who “publicly criticized the state of Israel and expressed sympathies for Palestinians in the past” two weeks after the Oct. 7 attacks. Reuters (Center bias) noted that Canada is a “minor supplier” of arms to Israel. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Canadian Press/Rex/Shutterstock
Canada will halt future arms sales to Israel following a non-binding vote in the house of commons. The foreign affairs minister, Mélanie Joly, told the Toronto Star her government would halt future arms shipments. “It is a real thing,” she said on Tuesday.
The decision follows a parliamentary motion, introduced by the New Democratic party (NDP), that called on the governing Liberals to halt future arms exports to Israel. The New Democrats, who are supporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government, have expressed frustration with what they see as his...
REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File Photo
Canada has not approved new arms export permits to Israel since Jan. 8 and the freeze will continue until Ottawa can ensure the weapons are used in accordance with Canadian law, the government said on Wednesday.
Export permits that were approved before Jan. 8 remain in effect, the office of Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in an emailed statement.
The political survival of Canada's minority Liberal government depends on support from the left-leaning New Democrats, who are calling for a tougher line with Israel over the Gaza conflict.
"Canada has...
Mert Alper Dervis / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The Canadian government, led by leftist Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will stop future arms exports to Israel.
The motion passed by Canada’s House of Commons said the country would “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada’s arms export regime and increase efforts to stop the illegal trade of arms, including to Hamas.” It passed in a 204-117 vote.
“It is a real thing,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said of the resolution, which was originally introduced by the leftist New Democratic...
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