Earlier this week, on Aug. 24, Montreal’s City Council adopted a motion expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and all civilians affected, and supporting international investigations into genocide claims and human rights violations, acknowledging that International Criminal Court arrest warrants have been issued for for Israeli leaders, and that Canada placed sanctions on Israel.
But three “divisive” and “irresponsible” parts of the original motion – put forward in June by the opposition party Projet Montreal – accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid, and forcing the city to cut ties with Israel – were removed.
But three “divisive” and “irresponsible” parts of the original motion – put forward in June by the opposition party Projet Montreal – accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid, and forcing the city to cut ties with Israel – were removed.
The 54-6 vote came after six weeks of campaigning by Jewish groups and allies in the city’s Hellenic, Christian and Italian communities of Montreal, and business leaders, who sent letters and petitions with hundreds of names to the lawmakers, opposing the anti-Israel rhetoric.
Ahead of Monday’s council meeting, mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and her team worked behind the scenes to cut those parts out of the motion and negotiate a final version. And while during the debate, she said the city stands in solidarity with Palestinians and an eventual Palestinian State and recognizes the grave humanitarian crisis, she urged the politicians to focus on issues that unite residents of their city.
Some Jewish leaders are calling the final wording “a win”, but unease remains that the issue won’t go away.
On today’s episode of The CJN’s North Star podcast, host Ellin Bessner speaks with Paola Samuel, the regional director of B’nai Brith Canada, who was in the council chamber and heavily involved in the campaign to block the original anti-Israel motion.
Related links
- Read more about the controversy surrounding the Projet Montreal motion, and what happened at city council on Aug. 24,, in The CJN.
- See B’nai Brith Canada’s statement issued following the 54-6 vote on the amended motion.
- Find out why a kosher restaurant was burned to the ground in Montreal’s Jewish neighbourhood in early August, 2026, in The CJN.
Credits
- Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner )
- Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Izzie Helenchilde (producer and video editor),l Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director)
- Music: Bret Higgins
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