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Canada Recognizes Palestinian State

Canada Formally Recognizes Palestinian State, Citing Erosion of Two-State Solution

Canada formally recognizes the State of Palestine as part of international effort to preserve two-state solution, while setting conditions for Palestinian Authority reforms.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

Canada has officially recognized the State of Palestine, a decision the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced is intended to preserve the increasingly imperiled prospect of a two-state solution. In a statement released on Sunday, the PMO confirmed that the recognition is part of a coordinated effort with international partners.

The PMO's statement explained that Canada's long-standing support for a two-state solution, which was once premised on a negotiated settlement, "has been steadily and gravely eroded" by several recent developments. These include the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Israeli parliament's support for annexing the occupied West Bank, and restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The statement condemned Hamas for having "terrorized the people of Israel and oppressed the people of Gaza, wreaking horrific suffering." The PMO added that Hamas has "stolen from the Palestinian people, cheated them of their life and liberty and can in no way dictate their future."

However, the PMO also said that the current Israeli government is

"working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established." It also noted that it is "now the avowed policy of the current Israeli government that 'there will be no Palestinian state.'"

In conjunction with the recognition, the PMO stated that Canada will "intensify efforts to support the Palestinian Authority's implementation of this reform agenda." The recognition remains contingent on the Palestinian Authority fulfilling certain commitments, including governance reforms, holding general elections in which Hamas will not participate, and the demilitarization of a future Palestinian state.

The announcement comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to meet with other world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The move follows similar declarations from Australia, with the United Kingdom and France also expected to follow suit.
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