(Quebec) Quebec must freeze the deployment of its diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv, Israel, argued the Parti Québécois (PQ) the day after Iran’s attack on the Jewish state.
PQ MP Pascal Paradis called for de-escalation in the Middle East region.
“It’s an unprecedented attack, it’s very worrying,” he declared in a press scrum Sunday morning at the PQ National Council in Drummondville.
He condemned the Iranian bombardment of Israel using missiles and drones, but also condemned Israel’s bombing of the Iranian embassy in Syria.
“Israel of course has a right to defend itself. But Quebec’s posture is that of de-escalation, it is that of peace and negotiation. »
The CAQ government announced in August the opening of a Quebec office in Tel Aviv. However, the deadly Hamas offensive in Israel on October 7 then set the region ablaze and delayed Quebec’s plans.
We must freeze the activities and deployment of the Quebec representation in Tel Aviv, this is not the right time, it sends the wrong signal in diplomatic terms, […] now is the time to exercise caution.
Pascal Paradis
The Minister of International Relations, Martine Biron, subsequently announced the opening of the Office, indicating that its manager would work from Montreal. However, finally, we learned that the station chief had been there for a few weeks.
“It was not the right thing to do,” Mr. Paradis was indignant.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Martine Biron
“Mme Biron hid the information that the delegate had visited Israel. […] While she told us that the office was managed from Montreal, with a letter submitted to the National Assembly, that the director was in Tel Aviv. »
The opposition had requested a parliamentary commission to hear Minister Martine Biron, but the Coalition Avenir Québec blocked the request.
The PQ has suggested that it will continue to apply pressure.
The Quebec Office in Tel Aviv is located within the Canadian Embassy.
These are 35e representation of Quebec abroad.