Canada has joined 34 other countries in abstaining on a UN resolution that declares the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital to be null and void. The resolution, despite its language, has no power to change the American action. The vote was 128 in favour, nine opposed and 35 abstaining. Among those abstaining were Canada, Australia, Mexico and Argentina. Those opposing the resolution were the US, Israel, Togo, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Honduras and Guatemala. “We are disappointed that this resolution is one-sided and does not advance prospects for peace to which we aspire, which is why we have abstained on today’s vote,” said Adam Austin, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. “Canada’s longstanding position is that the status of Jerusalem can be resolved only as part of a general settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. This has been the policy of consecutive governments, both Liberal and Conservative.”
