TORONTO—Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) announced July 31 that it cautiously welcomes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada will recognize a Palestinian state.
However, the solidarity organization expressed its deep concern over the conditional nature of the statement and the domestic context in which it was made, specifically noting new revelations about Canada’s complicity in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
“The timing of the announcement comes just one day after a bombshell report revealed the extent of Canada’s deceptive pause on arms transfers and far-reaching military cooperation with Israel during its assault on Gaza,” reads the statement.
“CJPME believes this context underscores both the growing power of Palestine solidarity movements and the government’s attempt to distract from more substantive accountability.”
CJPME believes that recognition of Palestinian statehood can only be made meaningful if Canada immediately enacts a comprehensive, two-way arms embargo with Israel, investigates Canadian companies potentially violating the embargo, and implements broad economic sanctions to hold Israel accountable for its genocide in Gaza and its system of apartheid and illegal occupation.
Jason Toney, Director of Media Advocacy at CJPME, warned that Carney seems to be trying to play the role of “kingmaker” in Palestine.
“Calling for elections while dictating who can participate makes a mockery of democracy. Palestinians, not foreign powers, must decide their future. Canada’s role should be to support truly fair and free elections.
“Demanding Palestinian demilitarization as a precondition for recognition while arming Israel is both the epitome of hypocrisy and denies Palestinians the very basic foundation of statehood itself. This is not recognition of a state, it’s a demand to capitulate to Israel’s dominance of Palestinians forever.
“The timing of this announcement is deeply suspect. Carney’s government appears more interested in deflecting attention from the damning arms trade revelations than in delivering real justice for Palestinians. Recognition is meaningless without sanctions on Israel. Palestine solidarity advocates won’t be placated by symbolic gestures.”
The declaration that Carney intends to recognize Palestine also came on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs on Canada following failed negotiations between the two countries.
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