OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling on the federal government to halt arms sales to Israel amid escalating violence in the region.
At a news conference today and again during question period, Singh says Canada must apply pressure to ratchet down violence in East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank and to prevent more arms from being used in attacks he says breach international law.
Government data shows Canada sent $13.7 million in military goods and technology to Israel in 2019.
Violence has been provoked by an upcoming eviction ruling on six Palestinian families living in Israel-occupied East Jerusalem and the frail coalition Netanyahu government's decision to deny access, during the Ramadan, to many wishing to pray at the city's Al-Aqsa mosque. Marches by Israeli ultra-nationalists have added further fuel to the conflict.
In recent days, 70 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been killed.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asking all parties to end the violence, saying rocket attacks against Israel as well as violence at an iconic mosque are "unacceptable."
Yesterday, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole put out a statement condemning rocket attacks by Hamas militants as "indiscriminately targeting civilians."
The Canada Press with CNC files
