Top court won't hear appeal to get Jerusalem, Israel, on passport

The Supreme Court of Canada on Thursday refused to hear the case of a Toronto man born in Jerusalem who wanted his passport to include Israel as his country of birth.

As usual, the top court gave no reason for deciding not to hear Eliyahu Veffer's appeal.

Due to the conflict over control of the city between Israelis and Palestinians, immigrants to Canada born in Jerusalem are issued passports only stating the city.

When Veffer received his passport stating his birthplace only as the city of Jerusalem, he decided to take Foreign Affairs to court.

Veffer argued his Charter rights to freedom of religion and equality were violated by the action, which he said discriminated against Jews.

In a 2006 decision, the Federal Court ruled the government is justified in its policy of listing Jerusalem alone due to the city's unresolved status.

Canada does not formally recognize that Jerusalem is part of Israel, nor does the United Nations.

As with most foreign embassies in Israel, Canada's remains in Tel Aviv.