TORONTO (December 21, 2017) - Friends of Simon WiesenthalCenter (FSWC) denounces today’s UN General Assembly vote on the status ofJerusalem. The majority of GA members voted in favour of a resolution thatcondemns the United States’ recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as thecapital of Israel.

While FSWC appreciates Canada for speaking out againstthe resolution, calling it “one-sided” and stating that it “does not advanceprospects for peace to which we aspire,” the organization is disappointed thatCanada also chose to abstain from the vote instead of taking a strong stand insupport of Israel as it has done previously at the UN.

“By abstaining, Canada is doing an about-face – giving upa long-held policy of supporting the Jewish state, given it is often bullied atthe United Nations,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “As numerouscountries continue to choose to bring anti-Israel attitudes into the UN, it iscritical for Canada and other countries that support the sovereignty anddemocracy of the US and Israel to stand up against such biased resolutions.”

“To witness such denial of Jerusalem as the capital ofIsrael is extremely concerning, but regardless of the vote, there is no denyingthat Jerusalem is Israel’s official capital and the US has the right torecognize it as such.”

Canada was one of 35 countries that abstained, while 128countries voted in favour and nine voted against the resolution.

The resolution was originally brought forward on Mondayat a Security Council meeting, calling on the US decision to be withdrawn.While 14 of the council members voted in favour of the resolution, the US –represented by US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley – vetoed the resolution.

Earlier this month, FSWC commended Canada for showing itssupport for Israel, voting against numerous anti-Israel resolutions presentedat the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly. Of the 18 resolutions voted onso far, Canada has rejected 15 and abstained from two.

FSWC also expressed support for the United States’recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, with Benlolo stating that"while we have seen attempts by countries and official bodies to denyJewish ties to this land, this formal recognition serves as a reminder thatJerusalem has been and always will be the capital of the Jewish democraticstate of Israel."

Media Contact:

Avital Borisovsky 
Communications Associate 
416.864.9735 x 29 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educationalprograms including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimedTour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca.

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