Joly pushed for even softer arms export language in motion on Israel-Hamas war: NDP

The consequences of a symbolic House of Commons vote Monday that called on Canada to cease future arms exports to Israel are still reverberating as Liberals face criticism from Israel — and from within their own caucus.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly held a closed-door meeting with some Liberals late Tuesday after three MPs voted against the motion, saying they were blindsided by the details of the last-minute amendments.

New Democrats say they negotiated those changes with the Liberals for days before the vote, and Joly herself was working with them late Monday to hammer out the details.

NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said Joly was pushing to further soften the language on arms exports with just half an hour to spare before a scheduled vote.

The final version of the non-binding motion, as approved by most Liberals, said Canada should cease further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel. That drew condemnation from the Israeli government.

Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather also continues to mull his place in the party, saying on Wednesday that he doesn't have any updates on whether he is going to leave the caucus.

But he skipped his party's caucus meeting Wednesday, which he typically attends in person. Several Liberal MPs said they had not reached out to him yet, but plan to do so.

Liberals had different takes on how much friction the vote caused within their party, with some describing their meeting as tension-filled while others tried to show a united front.

Government House leader Steve MacKinnon described the meeting as a «warm discussion» and «emotional» but rejected the notion there was tension within caucus.

But Liberal MP John McKay said following their meeting that «of course» the