Montreal City Council approves revised Middle East motion

The Montreal City Council approved an amended motion regarding the conflict in the Middle East on Monday, passing the measure with a 54-6 vote. The final version of the resolution underwent significant changes from the original proposal submitted by Projet Montréal.

The original motion had called for the city to sever institutional ties with Israel and included accusations that the country was committing ‘genocide’ and operating an ‘apartheid’ regime. These specific accusations and the demand to cut ties were removed from the version ultimately adopted by the council.

Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada argued that municipal officials should focus on local responsibilities, such as safety and service delivery, rather than taking controversial positions on distant geopolitical conflicts. While the revised motion expresses ‘solidarity with the Palestinian people as well as all civilian victims of hostilities,’ it does not specifically target Israel. The text calls for adherence to international law and supports judicial proceedings examining possible violations in Gaza.

Opposition Leader Ericka Alneus expressed disappointment, stating that the administration's modifications ‘significantly diluted’ the original intention. Conversely, B’nai Brith Canada welcomed the outcome, praising the council for not adopting the language used in the initial proposal.