Canada Ties Palestinian Recognition To Democratic Reforms

Canada Ties Palestinian Recognition To Democratic Reforms

Canada will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday, but the move comes with clear conditions.

Ottawa’s recognition will hinge on significant democratic reforms within the Palestinian Authority (PA), including conduction of free and credible national elections next year.

However, these elections must exclude Hamas from participation.

Speaking at a press briefing, Carney underscored the urgency of the situation: “The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable and rapidly deteriorating. The expansion of Israeli settlements and the erosion of Palestinian statehood can no longer be ignored.” However, he made it clear that Canada’s support is contingent on the PA demonstrating a commitment to democratic governance and political accountability.

This conditional recognition aligns Canada with recent policy shifts in the United Kingdom and France, while also signaling a more assertive stance on Middle East diplomacy.At a press briefing, Carney said, “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unbearable and worsening rapidly. The continued expansion of Israeli settlements and the diminishing prospects for Palestinian statehood can no longer be overlooked.”

The move follows the UK’s announcement on Tuesday that it plans to recognise Palestine by September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and other diplomatic conditions.

France made a similar declaration last week. If carried out, Canada would become the third G7 nation to take this stance in less than two weeks.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision, calling it “a reward for Hamas” and warning it would harm efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages still held since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack.

Despite the criticism, Carney stressed that Canada’s recognition will depend on a commitment from the PA to reform its governance structures and pursue demilitarisation.

He confirmed that he had personally discussed the conditions with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier in the day.

Carney’s announcement has sparked political backlash at home. The Conservative opposition accused the prime minister of sending “the wrong message to the world” by recognising a Palestinian state in the wake of the October 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages.

However, nearly 200 former Canadian diplomats and ambassadors signed an open letter this week urging the government to recognise Palestinian statehood, citing the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and “violent attacks by extremist settlers” in the West Bank.

“The principles Canada claims to uphold are being abandoned daily,” the letter reads, referencing the starvation, displacement, and bombardment facing Palestinian civilians.

Asked whether Canada’s decision was influenced by similar moves by France and the UK or involved consultation with US President Donald Trump, Carney maintained that Canada’s foreign policy remains independent: “We make decisions in line with our values and the urgency of the moment.”

The Palestinian Authority, led by the Fatah party, governs parts of the West Bank, while Hamas controls Gaza.

No general election has been held in either territory since 2006. Carney’s announcement puts pressure on the PA to demonstrate a credible path toward democracy and reform to secure Canadian support.

The United States, Israel’s closest ally and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has not indicated any immediate plans to follow suit, leaving it increasingly isolated among Western powers as diplomatic momentum gathers around the recognition of a Palestinian state.

According to the UN, 147 of its 193 member states already recognise Palestinian statehood.

Carney said the formal announcement will be made during the UN General Assembly in September, adding: “The two-state solution has long been Canada’s position, but continuing on the same path is no longer tenable. We must act before the prospect of peace is extinguished completely.”