Nearly 200 former Canadian ambassadors and career diplomats are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to recognize a Palestinian state.
In a letter dated July 29 and addressed to Mr. Carney, the career diplomats say that it’s time for Canada to join the 147 countries that have recognized statehood for Palestine.
“Recognition will not only reinforce our long-standing commitment to the self-determination of the Palestinian people but also our total rejection of any effort to displace or expel Palestinians,” the letter says.
Recognizing a Palestinian state, the letter continues, will help set the stage for “a serious bilateral negotiation process and send a clear message to the current Israeli government, which actively opposes a Palestinian state, that it does not have a veto on the recognition of Palestine.”
In a letter addressed to Mr. Carney, dated July 29, the career diplomats say that Canada should join the 147 countries that have recognized statehood for Palestine.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
The letter is signed by former ambassadors to Israel Jon Allen and Lisa Stadelbauer, Chris Greenshields who served in diplomatic posts in Israel and the West Bank, career diplomat Jeremy Kinsman, and many others.
On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand signed a joint statement with several other countries after a UN conference in New York, demanding an immediate ceasefire, unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas, and unimpeded humanitarian access. The statement also reiterated the importance of a two-state solution.
The statement also said that ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in September, ministers from those countries “have already recognized, have expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognize the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call.”
The Globe and Mail reported on Tuesday that Ottawa is weighing whether to follow Prime Minister Keir Starmer who said Britain will recognize a Palestinian state if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire. France said it will recognize a Palestinian state in September at the UN meeting in New York.
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The signatories of the July 29 letter, who wrote that they worked to promote Canadian values in a world that respected international law and rights, say they’re concerned that these principles are being “abandoned” with the “massive displacement, indiscriminate bombardment and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the violent attacks by extremist settlers in the West Bank.”
The letter, in addition to calling on Ottawa to recognize a Palestinian state, made several suggestions including exerting pressure on Israel and Hamas to implement a ceasefire, bring the hostages home and ensure humanitarian organizations are given full access to carry out their work.