Opposition grows to anti-Israel motion to be heard by Montreal city council

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsCanada Opposition grows to anti-Israel motion to be heard by Montreal city council An open letter from almost 50 Montreal lawyers on Thursday states that the motion 'goes far beyond an expression of solidarity with Palestinian civilians' Author of the article: By Stewart Lewis Published Aug 21, 2026 Last updated 4 hours ago 4 minute read Join the conversation Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada joined by Projet Montréal city councillor Ericka Alneus, left, while making statement about racism in the police force in Montreal North. On Monday, Projet Montréal is bringing a motion asking the city to cut institutional ties with Israel. PHOTO BY JOHN MAHONEY /Montreal Gazette Article content Leaders among Montreal’s legal and medical communities are condemning an anti-Israel motion to be voted upon by city council next week. Article content Brought by the opposition Projet Montréal party, the motion’s aim is to “recognize and denounce the apartheid regime in Palestine and the genocide being perpetrated there.” Article content Article content An open letter from almost 50 Montreal lawyers on Thursday states that the motion “goes far beyond an expression of solidarity with Palestinian civilians. It asks Montréal … to declare that a ‘genocide’ is under way,” while asking the city to suspend ties with the Israeli government. The lawyers question whether the proposed measure falls within the powers conferred on the city by the provincial legislature, noting that city councils do not determine international law. Article content Article content Despite this, they say, “the consequences of this conflict are already being felt here. In 2025, Jewish people were the target of approximately 71 per cent of police-reported hate crimes in Canada motivated by religion. Jewish schools in Montréal have been shot at, Jewish people have been assaulted, synagogues have been attacked, and antisemitism has manifested itself in academic and professional settings through intimidation, threats and exclusion.” Article content NP Posted Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Therefore, the letter suggests, “Montréal can acknowledge the suffering…