Canada’s Conservative Party overwhelmingly approved a resolution last week that, were the party to win the next majority government, recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Conservative leader Andrew Scheer indicated his enthusiasm to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital just after he was elected party leader in May 2017.
His party posted a pledge on its website in February to garner signatures from the public.
“Canada’s Conservatives, led by Andrew Scheer, will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital when we form government in 2019,” the pledge said, according to The Canadian Jewish News, with the party being “a strong voice for Israel and the Canadian Jewish community.”
“Jerusalem has been central to Jewish identity since it was established as the capital of the Jewish nation three thousand years ago,” said David Cape, chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy group of the Jewish Federations of Canada. “Since the establishment of the modern State of Israel, Jerusalem has been home to Israel’s democratically elected parliament, independent supreme court and national government offices.”
“Acknowledging the centrality of Jerusalem for Israel and the Jewish people should not be subject to partisan differences,” said Cape.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy in May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his administration has no intention of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital or moving its embassy.
