{"id":34867,"date":"2026-08-14T13:08:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T16:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/?p=34867"},"modified":"2026-08-14T13:54:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T16:54:05","slug":"city-of-montreal-instead-of-the-problems-in-the-middle-east-why-not-focus-on-municipal-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bambisafkar.ca\/index.php\/2026\/08\/14\/city-of-montreal-instead-of-the-problems-in-the-middle-east-why-not-focus-on-municipal-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Montreal: Instead of the problems in the Middle East, why not focus on municipal politics?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On the 24th of August, 2026, the city of Montreal (“Ville de Montr\u00e9al”) is considering voting on a motion to end economic and diplomatic ties with Israel because of its “genocide” toward Gazans or the Palestinian people (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/4vknprw9<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located 5,600 miles (about 9,000 km) away from Gaza, Montreal has its own social, economic, and safety-related issues. For instance, despite its charm, Montreal has issues like traffic, construction and street closing, old bridges’ decay, housing concerns, homelessness, drug abuse, a gang problem, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of strictly focusing on all of the above and on municipal politics, the city of Montreal wants to vote on a motion to boycott Israel and Israeli companies. How is this relevant to Montrealers? AND how is this going to help the Palestinians?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who do not know it, Montreal has an \u201cOffice of Government and International Relations and Protocol\u201d, which is meant to “represent, promote, and position Montr\u00e9al vis-\u00e0-vis governments, organizations, and institutions in Qu\u00e9bec, Canada, and internationall<\/em>y” (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3vsjh386<\/a>). Clearly, this office does not seem to be meant for political postering or virtue signalling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Bambi has always been compassionate toward the Palestinian people AND Israel has sadly re-occupied her birth country (in its war against the Hezbollah), she will ask again: if this motion is passed, how is it going to help the Palestinian people concretely? And do Montreal’s local politicians, including those pushing for the anti-Israel motion, truly care about Gazans?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who knows, perhaps some genuinely care. However, as the MP for Mount Royal, Mr. Anthony Housefather said: “it wasn’t the city\u2019s place to weigh in on international issues” <\/em>and this motion would \u201ctrigger hate and make Jews feel uncomfortable in Montreal<\/em>\u201d (https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/efp58h6v<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bambi is not Jewish, and left Montreal 22 years ago, yet she agrees with Mr. Housefather on this one. Why is the “Ville de Montr\u00e9al” taking this risk? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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