Montreal City Council to debate motion to cut ties with Israel

The Montreal City Council is scheduled to debate a motion on August 24 that calls for the city to suspend all institutional ties with the Israeli government, its institutions, and its municipalities. Originally introduced in June by Projet Montréal, the motion was delayed by Ensemble Montreal until the August session.

The proposed motion asks the city to recognize what it describes as an apartheid regime and genocide in Palestine. If passed, the city would cease inviting Israeli state representatives to official events at City Hall and suspend various institutional, academic, cultural, and sporting exchanges.

Activists and proponents of the motion argue that this action would mirror Montreal’s historical stance against South African apartheid. The motion cites findings from international bodies and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, regarding the situation in Gaza and the occupied territories.