Carney recognizes Palestinian state ahead of UN trip

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state on Sunday, just ahead of his arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Carney said in a statement that the Netanyahu government’s expansionist policies forced him to reverse Canada’s longstanding policy of waiting for a two-state solution to be achieved via a negotiated settlement.

“The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established … It is in this context that Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel,” wrote Carney.

Carney said Canada would be a partner in a “coordinated international effort to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.”

He added that the Palestinian Authority has made “direct commitments” to Canada and other international partners to hold general elections next year, where Hamas will be barred from running candidates.

These would be the first elections in the Palestinian territories since 2006. Polls show that Hamas is still by far the most popular political party in both Gaza and the West Bank.

The prime minister reiterated his call that Hamas lay down its arms and release the remaining hostages abducted from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Carney’s statement drew immediate backlash from family members of the eight Canadian citizens killed by Hamas terrorists in the Oct. 7 attacks.

“Over 700 days ago our loved ones were slaughtered by Hamas, an organization which still controls Gaza, still holds hostages, and still calls for the destruction of Israel. To reward this climate of terror with recognition is not just reckless; it is a betrayal, and jeopardizes the lives of hostages still being held in the tunnels of Gaza,” wrote the families in a joint statement.

Carney first indicated in July he planned to recognize a Palestinian state, contingent on assurances of democratic reforms, following the lead of France and the United Kingdom.

The prime minister will be in New York until Wednesday as he takes part in the UN General Assembly.

National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com

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