As Canada's candidacy for a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has comes to a vote This week, a new survey co-sponsored by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) revealed that Canadians want their government to oppose Israeli annexation of occupied Palestinian territory.

The survey found that three out of four Canadians want their government to oppose Israel's annexation of large parts of the West Bank, while almost half support the use of sanctions.

It further showed that Canadians support increasing international contributions in several specific areas where Canada lags behind its competitors, including peacekeeping, combating climate change, and support for Palestinian human rights.

The results of the survey, co-sponsored by CJPME, Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV), and the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine-Israel (UNJPPI), show that 74% of Canadians want the government to express opposition to Israeli annexation in some form, and 42% of Canadians want to impose economic and/or diplomatic sanctions against Israel. Sanctions against Israel are popular among supporters of the NDP (68%), Green Party (59%), Bloc Quebecois (54%), and Liberal Party (42%).

"These results prove that Canadians want more than words from (Canadian Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau when it comes to opposing Israel's annexation," said Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME. "Not only is it necessary to threaten sanctions to discourage annexation from taking place, but there is considerable support among the Canadian public to do so."

In recent months, disappointment has been growing over Trudeau's mild response to Israel's annexation plans. CJPME has been highly critical of the Trudeau government for failing to condemn Israel's plans to steal additional Palestinian territory.

The results of the poll also show that many Canadians want the government to increase its contribution to international peacekeeping and combating climate change, factors that would be key in a successful UNSC bid. Moreover, in a challenge to Canada's pro-Israel record, a majority of Liberal, NDP and Green supporters want Canada to increase its support for Palestinian human rights.

The survey was conducted by EKOS Research Associates between June 5 and June 10, with a random sample of 1,009 Canadian adults aged 18 and over. The margin of error associated with the sample is plus or minus 3.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.