Article content

OTTAWA — Canadian Greens voted at their convention Sunday morning to add boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel to their roster of party policies, despite their leader opposing the resolution.

A polarizing debate took over the convention floor during the weekend’s final plenary session.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Greens add support for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel to official party policies Back to video

The resolution was brought forward by the party’s shadow justice critic, Dimitri Lascaris.

Before the vote, Lascaris listed political parties and figures — including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and physicist Stephen Hawking — that have endorsed BDS.

The words being used are racist and code words for anti-Semitism

The BDS movement, which began as a form of economic protest, has become mired in controversy. While supporters call it a peaceful way to retaliate against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, detractors argue it’s anti-Semitic and denies Israel’s right to exist.

That’s what one Green member said Sunday morning: “the words being used are racist and code words for anti-Semitism.”