Achi news desk-
Guelph Liberal MP Lloyd Longfield issued a statement regarding the vote on a controversial NDP motion that had asked the House of Commons to recognize a Palestinian state.
Longfield was one of 204 MPs who voted in favor of the heavily amended NDP motion on Monday. Three Liberal MPs joined all 115 Conservative MPs in voting against the motion, which was supported by a majority of Liberals, and all NDP, Bloc, and Green MPs.
The motion, amended by the Liberals during a heated debate in the House of Commons, urges Canada to work “towards the establishment of a Palestinian State as part of a negotiated two-state solution, and to uphold Canada’s position that Israel has. right to exist in peace and security with his neighbours.”
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In a news release issued on Friday, Longfield explains why he voted in favor of the revised proposal and why it is important to have a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“Based on the improvements, I was satisfied that we have landed in the right place which is consistent with our work to provide humanitarian aid and find a lasting solution to find a peaceful resolution to respect human rights in the this region,” said Longfield.
The revised proposal included calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, an end to arms shipments to Israel and Hamas laying down its weapons.
“It calls on Canada to support the work of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, punish extremist settlers and maintain sanctions on Hamas leaders and continue to work to ensure the safe return home of Canadians trapped in Gaza, ” said Longfield.
The proposal was mainly a symbolic gesture as it was not binding but it triggered a division among the Liberal caucus with some very supportive of Israel and others saying that the attacks in Gaza were “horrific.”
— with files from the Canadian Press
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
