Earlier today, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his intention for Canada to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.
Since February 2024, JSpaceCanada has called on the Government of Canada to recognize the State of Palestine as a meaningful step toward advancing regional peace. We are heartened to see this government responding to the voices of so many pro-Israel, pro-peace Jews who believe that the best path forward is a two-state solution, one that includes both a Jewish State of Israel and an independent State of Palestine, broadly based on the 1967 borders.
At the same time, we are dismayed by the Israeli government’s continued efforts to annex large areas of the occupied West Bank, and its failure to prevent the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The withholding of Canadian-funded aid, which is contributing to the starvation of civilians in violation of international law, underscores a troubling reality: the current Israeli leadership is not committed to negotiating a just and lasting peace based on a two-state framework. In this context, it is imperative that Israel’s international allies, including Canada, take bold action to preserve and promote a viable two-state solution.
“It is important to remember not only that Palestinians have an inalienable right to statehood and sovereignty,” said JSpaceCanada Executive Director Maytal Kowalski, “but that an independent Palestinian state also guarantees the long-term safety and security of Israelis.”
“We now need to see concrete action from the Canadian government to demonstrate its commitment to this path, by banning trade with Israeli settlements, continuing to sanction violent settlers and extremist settler organizations, and helping to strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority. This includes enhancing democracy and governance, fighting corruption, revising the prisoner payment program, and addressing incitement.”
We commend Prime Minister Carney for this significant and courageous step, and reiterate our belief, shared by the majority of Canadian Jews, that a two-state solution remains the only just and sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We agree with the Prime Minister’s assertion that “[Canada] has the duty to promote peace and safety in Canada and around the world.”