Montreal Considers Cutting Ties to Israel as Outrage Grows in Canada over Israeli Impunity: Avi Lewis

On August 24, Montreal city council passed an amended Gaza resolution that removes the clause calling for the suspension of municipal ties with Israel. The revised text retains a condemnation of the humanitarian situation in Gaza but eliminates any language that would enact a boycott or formal diplomatic break. The motion now stops short of the original proposal to suspend ties, marking a concrete shift in the council’s stance.

National Post labeled the outcome a “watered‑down” motion, suggesting councilors gave in to criticism, while Democracy Now presented the amendment as part of an ongoing debate over cutting Israeli ties. Media accounts vary on the amendment’s significance. The Jerusalem Post and CBC note the council’s explicit rejection of a suspension call, whereas Haaretz emphasizes the abandonment of a boycott component.

The Montreal Gazette reports the council’s decision but provides little detail on the internal deliberations that led to the compromise. What remains unanswered is whether councilors will revive a stronger resolution, and how provincial or federal authorities might respond to the amended stance.