Israeli consulate to move from downtown to Westmount

[ErickMontreal]

Israeli consulate to move from downtown to Westmount

 

JASON MAGDER, The Gazette

Published: 8 hours ago

 

The Israeli consulate is moving from its downtown location to Westmount.

 

According to the consulate's website, the offices will move from the CIBC building on René Levesque Blvd. at the corner of Peel St. to Westmount Square by next Monday.

 

A spokesperson for the consulate says the consulate's 10-year lease in the CIBC building had expired, so the decision was made to change locations.

 

"This is what suited us best in terms of office space and availability and we took what we could take," said Peter Subissati, the consulate's director of public affairs.

 

Daniel Saykaly, a director of Palestinian and Jewish Unity, called the move a victory for his group. He said the consulate has been embarrassed by weekly protests held in front of the CIBC building since Feb. 9, 2001.

 

"We originally started the weekly vigil in the relatively early stages of the second intifada," he said. "We felt it was important to make a regular public statement against the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza."

 

The consulate's spokesperson denied the group's claim.

 

"The protests had been going on without any incident and I don't think it ever was a factor in our move," Subissati said.

 

He added the offices of the Spanish and Brazilian consulates are also at Westmount Square.

 

Saykaly said PAJU and supporters haven't missed a week since the first protest, and usually between 20 and 30 people demonstrate in front of the CIBC building on Fridays between noon and 1 p.m., waving flags, chanting slogans and handing out flyers.

 

A counter-protest of Israel supporters has been taking place across the street for the last several years, garnering about the same number of people.

 

Saykaly said his group will now move its weekly protests to Ste. Catherine St. at the corner of McGill College Ave., to join members of the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in front of the bookstore Indigo.

 

jmagder@thegazette.canwest.com

[mcgill]

It would be interesting to have all or most of the consulates in Montreal's great Quartier International. That would give the area even more of an international flavour!

 

Just dreaming here: This could warrant the construction of a United Nations-type complex, with accompanying plaza, heliport, etc. perhaps located in the PdlCI II...

[jesseps]

It would be interesting to have all or most of the consulates in Montreal's great Quartier International. That would give the area even more of an international flavour!

 

Just dreaming here: This could warrant the construction of a United Nations-type complex, with accompanying plaza, heliport, etc. perhaps located in the PdlCI II...

 

that be a pretty cool idea.

[cjb]

And it could also attract major terror attacks. The PERFECT target.

 

It will never happen.

 

Si j'avais le choix entre avoir mon bureau dans la tour CIBC ou Westmount Square, je choisirais rapidement Westmount Square !

[Habsfan]

And it could also attract major terror attacks. The PERFECT target.

 

It will never happen.

 

Si j'avais le choix entre avoir mon bureau dans la tour CIBC ou Westmount Square, je choisirais rapidement Westmount Square !

 

Oui mais tu ne serais pas au C-V!

[MTLskyline]

And it could also attract major terror attacks. The PERFECT target.

 

It will never happen.

 

Si j'avais le choix entre avoir mon bureau dans la tour CIBC ou Westmount Square, je choisirais rapidement Westmount Square !

 

C'est quoi la problème avec la tour CIBC?

[MTLskyline]

It would be interesting to have all or most of the consulates in Montreal's great Quartier International. That would give the area even more of an international flavour!

 

Just dreaming here: This could warrant the construction of a United Nations-type complex, with accompanying plaza, heliport, etc. perhaps located in the PdlCI II...

 

I like the idea as well, but it would be preferable to have very high security. As well we'd have to be careful regarding who is located on the same floor as who.. In fact, it'd be great if you could pitch the idea at the developers to try and get at least some of the consulates to move in there!