Canada will recognize Palestinian state, prime minister says
By Rob Gillies, Associated Press
Toronto (AP) – Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, the last in a series of symbolic announcements that are part of a larger world change against Israeli policies in Gaza.
Carney summoned a meeting of the cabinet to discuss the situation in the beaten Palestinian territory. He said it came after discussing the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who announced a similar decision on Tuesday.
The leaders are increasing pressure on the issue, the hunger scenes in Gaza have horrified so many people around the world.
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” said Carney.
“Canada intends to recognize the state of Palestine in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.”
Carney said that the intention is based on the Palestinian authority “organizing general elections in 2026 in which Hamas cannot play any role and demiliate the Palestinian state”.
It was not immediately clear how the Carney’s warnings represented a condition – an election in the shipwrecked band is unlikely to soon.
The pressure to officially recognize the Palestinian state has increased since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country would become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
As for France and the United Kingdom, Canadian recognition would be largely symbolic, but that is part of a broader world change against Israel and could increase diplomatic pressure for the end of the conflict.
More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe. Macron’s announcement last week made France the first group of seven countries – and the largest in Europe – to make this stage.
Canada has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian State existing alongside Israel, but said that recognition should be part of a solution negotiated with two states in the conflict.
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