Canada recognizes Palestinian statehood
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will recognize Palestine’s independence after UN conference, joining a global push for a two-state solution.
On September 21, Prime Minister Mark Carney made an official statement that Canada would recognize Palestinian statehood as a means of achieving a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.
The statement accused Israel of “working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established” through increased creation of illegal settlements in the West Bank and contributing to humanitarian catastrophe, famine in the Gaza Strip, and greater hostility towards Palestinians by the Israeli government, thus necessitating a more coordinated approach “to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.”
The announcement follows similar statements made by other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Portugal, that they would recognize Palestine as well.
Recognition amid the backdrop of United Nations conferences
France has led the current global efforts at normalizing relations with Palestine, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing on July 24 his country’s intention to recognize Palestine by September and, along with Saudi Arabia, to co-chair a United Nations (UN) conference on preserving the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
On July 29, following that conference, the leaders of all countries participating, including Canada, signed the New York Declaration. The Declaration calls for a swift end to hostilities in Gaza, affirms a two-state peaceful framework between Israel and Palestine, and opposes further Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, which are illegal under international law.
On September 12, France put the tenets of the Declaration to a vote in the UN General Assembly, where it passed with 142 votes in favour to 10 votes against. Israel and the U.S. voted against the Declaration.
The recognitions are not expected to result in changes in Israeli policy. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s main opposition party have stringently opposed Palestinian statehood and the New York Declaration.
Netanyahu has vowed never to tolerate the idea of a Palestinian state and to continue Israel’s settlement policy in preparation for a possible annexation of the West Bank. At the same time, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the recognition as a “diplomatic disaster” and a “reward for terror.”
Recognition is a “false victory” unless concrete steps are taken
While the New York Declaration is diplomatically significant, it remains to be seen if the gesture can translate into concrete action on the ground in Palestine.
The Medium spoke to Onoasi Odo-Effiong, president of the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Social Justice Club, about what formal recognition of Palestine would mean for Palestinian social justice.
Odo-Effiong termed the recognition as a “false victory.” Canada’s belated diplomatic recognition of Palestine comes after years of constant humanitarian crises and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Israel. Moreover, she accused the government of Canada of trying to “appease both sides” by recognizing Palestine while continuing to sell arms to Israel.
A July 29 report by the Palestinian Youth Movement, World Beyond War, and the Arms Embargo Now Campaign suggests that Israel is still obtaining arms from Canadian sources, despite government insistence to the contrary. According to the report, the continued arms trade to Israel directly undermines Canadian efforts by domestic and international law to stop the genocide in Gaza.
Odo-Effiong also brought up the recent Israeli strikes on Qatar and Lebanon and the indiscriminate attacks by Israeli forces against civilians and aid workers as reasons behind taking more concrete steps against Israel’s belligerency.
Referencing the recent successful Knesset vote that called for the annexation of the West Bank, she mentioned that Israel “genuinely believes that this is their birthright to own that land” and thus does not have an appetite for negotiating a two-state solution unless sustained international pressure can pressure Israel into accepting a ceasefire.
When asked what readers can do to help pressure Israel, Odo-Effiong suggested writing letters to political representatives, boycotting companies and people who do business with Israel, and spreading the word on Israeli atrocities to foster a grassroots movement for greater action against Israel and those who support its genocidal actions. “Removing your dollars… that are being sent to Israel is the most immediate thing any regular person can do.”
