Canada’s recognition of Palestine is a historical change of Canadian policy, a very necessary step forward. That Canada joined with the United Kingdom, Australia, Britain, France, Portugal, Spain ,Ireland, Barbados and Jamaica indicates that Israel’s traditional friends are fed up, outraged by the Netanyahu government’s flagrant violation of international law and human decency.
The United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry has called for an end to the “genocide” that Israel is committing in Gaza. Netanyahu’s response to the recognition of Palestine has been to declare there will never be a Palestinian state and to announce more settlements on the West Bank (E1) legislation where he and his far-right ministers are conducting a policy of creeping annexation.
The Israeli Knesset (Parliament) has passed legislation to annex the West Bank in response to the recognition of many countries of a Palestinian state. History will judge him and his government by their illegal deeds.
Many of us have conflicting opinions about the meaning and impact of the announcement. On the one hand, it certainly does not do enough to address Israel’s genocide in Gaza and stop the plans to annex the West Bank. On the other hand, the International Court of Justice is clear: ” The Palestinian People have an Inalienable Right to Self Determination,” which this recognition emphasizes.
Moreover, the United Nations has continuously called for Israel to withdraw from the territories it occupied in the 1967. UN Resolution 242, which Israel accepted in 1968, declared “the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East in which every State in the area can live in security.” Resolution 338, after the 1973 war, reiterates the implementation of the UN 242 resolution.
The international community has now overwhelmingly declared that Palestine will be one of those states. After decades of stumbling and hesitation, the Canadian government has finally come forward. As a Canadian of Palestinian origin, I am proud of my country. Thia is a huge policy victory, which can bring real benefits for Palestinians seeking justice on the international stage.
Yet there is much more that Canada can do. The Israelis are attacking the West Bank, allowing settlers to terrorize Palestinian villages and cities. The Israeli army stands by. Canada has sanctioned a few of the Israeli terrorists. It must act against the government that permits these crimes. Nor does the Netanyahu government give the funds (taxes that Israel collects from Palestinians), and is owed to the Palestinian Authority to pay their officials and support their infrastructure. While bringing in Israeli settlers, the Israeli government persecutes Palestinians.
Canada has condemned the brutal Israeli assault on Gaza but has done little to respond to the human tragedy. Visas are almost impossible to get. Families get no responses from the government when they appeal for help to rescue relatives from the continuous bombardments. Students that have been approved to attend Canadian universities cannot access their visas. This is completely unacceptable, especially when Canada responded so quickly and generously to the flood of refugees from Ukraine.
For many years, I have been advocating for this recognition. Congratulations to our Government, to Prime Minister Carney and to Minister Anand for this courageous announcement. This is Canada’s moment to lead where the US will not- offering responsibility, resources, and vision to support peace and stability in the Middle East.
There is much more work that Canada can and must do. This is only the good beginning.