Poilievre calls Trudeau's stance on genocide case against Israel 'incomprehensible'

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's position on South Africa's genocide claimagainst Israel on Monday, calling it"incomprehensible" and accusing the prime ministerand Foreign Affairs MinisterMlanie Jolyof deliberately giving answersno one can understand.

Trudeau told reporters two weeks ago that Canada's "wholehearted"support for the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is adjudicating South Africa's case against Israel, "does not mean we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa."

Jolyreleased a written statement hours later echoing Trudeau's language and adding that proving genocidal intent requires a high threshold ofevidence.

Sources told CBC News last week that the wording of thestatementswas crafted to indicate that no one should assume the government supports or rejects the genocide claim outright.

"You would need a linguist with a PhD and a magnifying glass to figure out the garble that comes out of the foreign minister and the prime minister on this question, because they are deliberately giving answers that no one can comprehend," Poilievre told reporters Monday in West Vancouver."He's divided the country on this just like every other issue."

WATCH |Poilievreslams Trudeau's stance on genocide case against Israel:

Poilievre calls PMs remarks on genocide case before ICJ incomprehensible

8 months ago

Duration 2:16

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the prime minister and the minister of foreign affairs are deliberately giving answers that no one can comprehend when discussing South Africa's genocide claim against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The Conservative leader rejected South Africa's genocide allegation against Israeltwo weeks ago, calling the case brought before the ICJa "shameless" and "dishonest" attack on Jewish people and the Jewish state.

"It's time for the prime minister to grow a backbone, stop trying to divide Canadians based on religion and ethnicity and take a principled stand in favour of humanity and against the real propagators of genocide, who are the Hamas terrorists," said Poilievre.

When asked by reporterswhy Canada isn't publicly supporting or rejecting South Africa's allegations, Joly appeared unwilling to elaborate on her previous statement.

"Well you read my statement. My statement is my statement ... I have nothing else to add on that," she responded.

WATCH | Jolysays Canada following case before ICJ, will react as 'things evolve':

Joly says she has nothing to add to statement on genocide case against Israel

8 months ago

Duration 1:35

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mlanie Joly did not elaborate on her previous statement on Canadas position regarding the genocide claim against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Joly said she is following the case and will react to it as things evolve.

"What I can tell you is that we are following the case and we will react to it as things evolve," said Joly, who went on to describe the situation in the Middle East as "heartbreaking" and the related violence and tensions here in Canada as "heart-wrenching."

The U.S., U.K., France and Germany have all dismissed South Africa's allegations against Israel.

Israel's Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed is calling on the Canadian government to reject the case; he called thecharge levied by South Africa"a completely baseless accusation."

Mona Abuamara, the chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada, is encouraging the Canadian government to back South Africa at the ICJ, describing it as a "case for justice and accountability."

The case could takeyears to resolve at the ICJ.