Canada abstained Wednesday from a high-profile United Nations vote demanding that Israel end its 香蕉视频直播渦nlawful presence香蕉视频直播� in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank within a year.

The decision follows a shift in how Ottawa votes at the UN, and it alarmed a prominent Israel advocacy group while earning criticism from two Liberal MPs.

香蕉视频直播淲e cannot support a resolution where one party, the State of Israel, is held solely responsible for the conflict,香蕉视频直播� Canada香蕉视频直播檚 ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, told the General Assembly.

The State of Palestine brought the non-binding motion, which passed 124-14; Canada was among 43 abstentions. The resolution was based on a non-binding ruling by the top United Nations court in July that said Israel香蕉视频直播檚 presence in the Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end.

The motion pertained to Israel香蕉视频直播檚 decades of occupation in the West Bank, as well as its war against Hamas in Gaza. It comes as the first anniversary of the war approaches and as violence in the West Bank reaches new highs.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, called the vote a turning point 香蕉视频直播渋n our struggle for freedom and justice.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t sends a clear message that Israel香蕉视频直播檚 occupation must end as soon as possible and that the Palestinian people香蕉视频直播檚 right to self-determination must be realized,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Israel香蕉视频直播檚 UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, slammed the vote as 香蕉视频直播渁 shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority香蕉视频直播檚 diplomatic terrorism.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚nstead of marking the anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of all 101 of the remaining hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the music of the Palestinian Authority,香蕉视频直播� Danon said.

Rae said Canada abstained despite agreeing that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territories, because the resolution calls for isolating Israel and contains language around boycotting the country, which he said will not lead to peace.

He said the violence in Israel and the territories it occupies is 香蕉视频直播渁 conflict where everyone in this room knows that many other states and non-state actors are also directly involved.香蕉视频直播�

While the resolution is not legally binding, the extent of its support reflects world opinion. There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council.

The resolution also demands the withdrawal of all Israeli forces and the evacuation of settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories 香蕉视频直播渨ithout delay.香蕉视频直播� And it urges countries to impose sanctions on those responsible for maintaining Israel香蕉视频直播檚 presence in the territories and halt arms exports to Israel if they香蕉视频直播檙e suspected of being used there.

In addition, the resolution calls for Israel to pay reparations to Palestinians for the damage caused by its occupation and urges countries to take steps to prevent trade or investments that maintain Israel香蕉视频直播檚 presence in the territories.

Liberal MPs Anthony Housefather and Marco Mendicino said Canada should have voted against the 香蕉视频直播渂latantly one-sided香蕉视频直播� resolution, arguing the abstention doesn香蕉视频直播檛 advance conditions for peace or adequately recognize Israel香蕉视频直播檚 right to exist.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs argued that Canada on Wednesday violated a statement Rae香蕉视频直播檚 delegation issued last November, which said Canada would vote down motions unfairly targeting Israel.

香蕉视频直播淐anada reiterates the importance of a fair-minded approach at the United Nations and will continue to vote 香蕉视频直播榥o香蕉视频直播� on resolutions that do not address the complexities of the issues or seek to address the actions and responsibilities of all parties, including the destructive role of terrorist organizations like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah,香蕉视频直播� the Nov. 9, 2023 statement reads.

That statement was issued as Canada abstained on a motion calling for an 香蕉视频直播渋mmediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce香蕉视频直播� in Gaza. Analysts noted Canada has generally voted against UN motions focusing on Israel, as the U.S. continues to do.

A month later, Canada broke with tradition by voting in favour of a UN motion seeking an 香蕉视频直播渋mmediate ceasefire香蕉视频直播� without specifically condemning Hamas.

Reacting to Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 vote, CIJA argued Canada is rewarding Hamas by abstaining and not voting against the motion. 香蕉视频直播淐anada broke its promise and put political expediency before principle,香蕉视频直播� the group wrote in a statement.

The International Court of Justice ruling that spawned the motion was a sweeping condemnation of Israel香蕉视频直播檚 rule over the lands it captured during the 1967 war. It said Israel had no right to sovereignty over the territories and was violating international laws against acquiring the lands by force.

Rae argued Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 resolution 香蕉视频直播済oes well beyond the ICJ advisory opinion.香蕉视频直播�

The motion asks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to submit a report to the General Assembly within three months of putting the resolution in place, 香蕉视频直播渋ncluding any actions taken by Israel, other states and international organizations, including the United Nations.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淲e fully abide by the decisions of the International Court of Justice,香蕉视频直播� Guterres told reporters. 香蕉视频直播淚 will implement any decision of the General Assembly in that regard.香蕉视频直播�

Meanwhile, Canada laid sanctions Wednesday against people with 香蕉视频直播渞oles in Hamas香蕉视频直播檚 financial network香蕉视频直播� as well as 香蕉视频直播渆xtremist香蕉视频直播� Israeli settlers.