The governing Liberal party in Canada has backed a motion introduced this week by the opposition Conservative party that formally condemns and rejects the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.

The Liberals have the majority in the Canadian parliament.

The February 18 motion, introduced by Conservative MPs Tony Clement and Michelle Rempel, states, “That, given Canada and Israel share a long history of friendship as well as economic and diplomatic relations, the House reject the BDS movement, which promotes the demonization and delegitimization of the State of Israel, and call upon the government to condemn any and all attempts by Canadian organizations, groups or individuals to promote the BDS movement, both here at home and abroad.”

Both the New Democratic Party and Green Party have indicated that they will oppose the motion.

“This is not a partisan issue,” said Tony Clement, the Conservative MP, in leading off the debate. He called BDS a form of discrimination, “just like boycotts that have targeted Jews throughout history.”

Rejecting the BDS movement specifically, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion said “the world will win nothing for boycotting Israel but depriving itself of the talents of its inventiveness,” adding, “We must fight anti-Semitism in all its forms.”

Jewish groups applauded the motion, which is expected to pass next week.

Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), stated: “A clear, all-party consensus rejecting the divisive BDS movement was reaffirmed in the House of Commons. One after the other, members of Parliament spoke up in support of Canada’s friendship with Israel and spoke out against efforts to delegitimize, isolate and discriminate against Israel by advancing the false idea that Palestinians bear no responsibility for the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“The boycott movement does not contribute to peace and is not pro-Palestinian. It is discrimination based on nationality, and it harms both Israelis and Palestinians alike by driving the two sides further apart. The BDS movement is a fringe movement and is outside genuine peace efforts.”

The Canadian bill comes amid numerous initiatives condemning and banning attempts to boycott Israel in the United States — where state legislatures in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Indiana passed anti-BDS resolutions – and in Europe.

Earlier this week, the British government announced new regulations to outlaw with Britain becoming the second major European country with laws against boycotting Israel.

France passed such laws in 2003, and they have served as the basis for multiple convictions of BDS activists who were sentenced for incitement to discrimination or hate due to their actions on Israel.

Earlier this week, the City Council of Paris passed two declarative motions expressing the city’s rejection of attempts to boycott Israel.