The surge in violence in the conflict between Israel and Palestine is blocking the opening of the Quebec Office in Tel Aviv. The inauguration scheduled for next week has been postponed.
The news, first reported by 98.5 FM, was confirmed on Duty by the office of the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron, Tuesday. “The official opening is postponed, but the office director works from Quebec,” press secretary Catherine Boucher said by text message.
Launched in August, the Quebec Office in Tel Aviv has been in the works since 2017, reported The duty last month. Israel is Quebec’s third trading partner in the Middle East.
However, the surge in violence observed this weekend after Hamas attacks near the Gaza Strip will have the effect of postponing its inauguration until “security conditions allow”.
In Quebec, the fleur-de-lis was lowered to half-mast on the central tower of parliament on Tuesday, in memory of “the victims of terrorist attacks and violence in Israel”.
Further details will follow.
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