Don't condemn Israel boycotters, says Quebec coalition

A coalition of Quebec organizations including some unions iscalling on the federal Liberals to reconsider their stance on the boycott of Israeli goods and services.

• Analysis |Liberals denounce and agree with Tory motion condemning Israel boycotters

Liberal MPs are expected to vote Monday to support a Conservative motion that condemns organizations and individualssupporting the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, or BDS.

But several organizations, including BDS Quebec,Independent Jewish Voices Canada,the FTQ and CSN want the Liberal government to reject the motion.

At a news conference on Sunday, the group saidthe BDS movement is a response to human rights abuses bytheIsraeli government.

BruceKatz, withIndependent Jewish Voices Canada, criticized the Canadian government for giving Israel "carte-blanche" when it comes to the expansion of settlements.

"You can't sit on the fence on a question of fundamental human rights and the defence of freedom of expression," he said."This is an unacceptablepositionon the part of the Liberal government."

Katz accusedthe Liberal government of letting the Conservative Opposition call the shots.

The coalition ischallenging the Liberals to make use of their majority in the House of Commons and reject the motion.

If the Liberals go ahead and support the motion, the group says it will only strengthen its resolve.