Canada's Conservative Party pledges to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital

As a part of Andrew Scheer’s electoral campaign under Canada’s Conservative Party, the highly sensitive topic of Jerusalem has come to light, with the party asking people to sign up to become a member if they believe Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

"Canada’s Conservatives have been, and always will be, a strong voice for Israel and the Canadian Jewish community", the party said on its website, referring to Israel as "one of Canada's strongest allies and a beacon of pluralism and democratic principles in a turbulent part of the world."

Scheer’s pledge departs Ottawa’s recent attempt to distance itself from endorsing US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel late last year.

Canada abstained from a UN vote in December condemning Trump’s Jerusalem decision, which saw a decisive vote of 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions.

Shortly after Trump’s move, Guatemala became the first country to follow Washington’s footsteps by announcing that it will move its own embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and recognise the contested city as Israel’s capital on December 25.

Trump’s Jerusalem decision caused global outrage with protests taking place across the world.

Since the December 6 announcement, 26 Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed in cross-border exchanges and clashes with Israeli troops across the West Bank and along the Gaza border. 

Trump's controversial announcement has undermined the likelihood of a reconciliation, and damaged the already fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

Israel regards Jerusalem as its capital, a position nearly the entire world rejects saying its status should be determined in peace talks with the Palestinians. 

Jerusalem is a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Arab leaders and others have reacted in anger.  

Under international law East Jerusalem is considered occupied Palestinian territory.