Thirty Canadian MPs, including NDP and Green Party leaders Jagmeet Singh and Elizabeth May, and four members of the ruling Liberal Party caucus joined MPs from New Zealand and Australia in supporting recognition of a Palestinian state.
In an open letter published on Wednesday, more than 100 parliamentarians from nine political parties called on governments to join the 146 countries that have recognized a Palestinian state.
Canada’s first formal call for a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel conflict came nearly a year ago through a yes vote on a non-binding United Nations resolution.
that passed It was passed at the United Nations General Assembly with 153 votes in favor, 10 against, and 23 abstentions.
Voting took place as follows: joint statement Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand made the announcement, calling for the ceasefire to continue.
Israel’s 13-month military campaign in Gaza has left nearly 44,000 people dead and at least once displaced nearly the enclave’s entire population. It was launched in response to an attack by Hamas-led fighters that killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in Israel on October 7, 2023.
“The terms of a two-state solution are increasingly threatened by illegal settlements and state-sanctioned violence,” NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson said in a press statement Wednesday.
“There is an urgent need for Canada to recognize a Palestinian state before it is too late,” Macpherson said.
The open letter said recognition of a Palestinian state would help restart rights-based peace negotiations and “strengthen moderate voices on both sides calling for a peaceful and political solution in line with the requirements of international law.”
“Currently, neither Palestinians nor Israeli citizens can live safely,” the letter said. “Recognizing a Palestinian state would benefit both Palestinians and Israelis.”
Liberal Party member filed a motion In September, the document aims to study a Palestinian state and identify the quickest way to recognize it, but the document is controversial.
Earlier this month, Alexandre Leveque, Canada’s assistant secretary for international affairs, spoke at a parliamentary committee considering the issue. motion. He said the federal government was consulting with like-minded countries on the proposal.
Louis-Martin Aume, general counsel for Global Affairs, told the committee that there were no legal obstacles to recognizing a Palestinian state and that it was a purely political decision.
“Based on customary international law, standards exist and it is entirely possible for governments to make assessments based on those standards,” Ohmai said.
MPs are hearing from regional groups with diametrically opposed views on whether Canada should move forward immediately with recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs and B’nai Brith Canada, two Jewish community advocacy groups, warned the committee against approving it, citing the risk of rewarding Hamas and the lack of Palestinian state institutions.
Other groups, including Independent Jewish Voices, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, and the Canadian Federation of Palestinian Organizations, say the Canadian government’s recognition paves the way for peace and ends what Ottawa views as collusion with Israel. He claimed that it would help. Occupation.
The Canadian Members of Parliament who signed this letter are:
- Charlie Angus (New Democratic Party)
- Niki Ashton (New Democratic Party)
- Jenica Atwin (Liberal Party of Canada)
- Taylor Bachrach (New Democratic Party)
- Lisa Marie Barron (New Democratic Party)
- Stephane Bergeron (Quebec Bloc)
- Rachel Blaney (New Democratic Party)
- Alexandre Boullis (New Democratic Party)
- Richard Cannings (New Democratic Party)
- George Chahal (Liberal Party of Canada)
- Laurel Collins (New Democratic Party)
- Leila Dance (New Democratic Party)
- Don Davis (New Democratic Party)
- Blake Desjarlais (New Democratic Party)
- Leah Gazan (New Democratic Party)
- Matthew Green (New Democratic Party)
- Lori Idraut (New Democratic Party)
- Gord Johns (New Democratic Party)
- Peter Julian (New Democratic Party)
- Iqra Khalid (Party Liberal Party)
- Jenny Kwan (New Democratic Party)
- Alistair McGregor (New Democratic Party)
- Brian Mass (New Democratic Party)
- Lindsay Mathiesen (New Democratic Party)
- Elizabeth May (Green Party of Canada)
- Heather McPherson (New Democratic Party)
- Mike Morris (Green Party of Canada)
- Jagmeet Singh (New Democratic Party)
- Salma Zahid (Liberal Party of Canada)
- Bonita Zarrillo (New Democratic Party)
