Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Israel should fear that Canada's decision to stop arming its ally over its devastating war in Gaza could open the door for others to take similar measures if the assault continues, experts have said.
The decision was taken after a back-and-forth parliamentary session that stretched into the late hours of Monday night, with the Liberal government making several amendments to a motion led by the New Democratic Party that called for tougher action on the Israel war in the Palestinian Strip.
It also came amid a stream of reports that US President Joe Biden is growing increasingly concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not listening to American requests to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and limit the war's toll on civilians.
About 32,000 people have been killed by Israeli fire in the coastal territory since the war began on October 7, after Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 240. The war has pushed hundreds of thousands of Gazans to the brink of famine.
The decision has little tactical impact on Israel. However, there is a great deal more concern about the damage to its reputation.
Chuck Freilich, a researcher at the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies, believes Canada's decision could encourage other nations to take similar measures.
“It’s a symbolic move," the former deputy National Security Advisor told The National. “Internationally, Canada holds particular sway on the moral level... So if Canada stops exports, it becomes easier for others to do the same."
Canada is a minor supplier of arms to Israel. Last week, it said it had paused non-lethal military exports since January because of the rapidly evolving situation on the ground. The country has not sent lethal aid to Israel since the war started after October 7, a senior government source told The National.
“Israel should fear that Canada's decision could create a domino effect and push other friendly countries to follow suit,” a Palestinian veteran politician told The National.
“There are already signs that other friendly countries are changing their policies and considering delaying or embargoing weapons to Israel, including Britain.”
“The problem with the resolution is that it is an expression of the difficult situation that Israel is experiencing, and essentially shows how the world, which stood by Israel after October 7, could quickly forget,” added the politician.
The US remains Israel’s biggest arms supplier, accounting for almost 70 per cent of its weapons imports between 2013 and 2022. Restricting military aid is, therefore, perhaps the greatest leverage Mr Biden has over Mr Netanyahu.
During an interview with MSNBC last week, Mr Biden said he would never “cut off all weapons so that [Israel does not] have the Iron Dome [missile defence system] to protect them”.
The President's specific reference to Iron Dome led some commentators to speculate whether the US might nonetheless consider limiting offensive weapons.
Politicians and lawyers in countries allied to Israel have been putting increasing pressure on governments to stop arms exports in recent months.
A Dutch court ruled in February that the Netherlands must stop deliveries of parts for F-35 fighter jets. The same month, reports emerged that the British government, will consider stopping arms export licenses if Israel launched an offensive against the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Israeli officials have criticised Canada's decision. Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X that the decision “undermines Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas terrorists” and that “history will judge Canada's current action harshly.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X that the move is "wrong, harmful and dangerous".
"Israel is waging a war against an extreme and cruel terrorist organisation and the Canadians simply do not understand what is really happening here," he added.
"This does not change the fact that we are witnessing the collapse of Israel's foreign relations because of an evil and negligent government that manages them terribly."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The past Palme d'Or winners
2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda
2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund
2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach
2015 Dheepan, Jacques Audiard
2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan
2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux
2012 Amour, Michael Haneke
2011 The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick
2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul
2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke
2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
