Jesse Kline: Carney's futile attempt to will a Palestinian state into existence
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Carney's announcement following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as Ottawa has shown no interest in supporting its former allies in Jerusalem since Israel was brutally attacked on Oct. 7, 2023. But for Macron, it represents a radical about-face.
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Less than a month after the October 7 massacre, Macron visited Israel (something former prime minister Justin Trudeau refused to do) and suggested that the 86-member coalition that fought against the Islamic State 'should also fight against Hamas.'
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Had anyone listened to him at the time, we might be living in a much different world today. A coalition of countries willing to put boots on the ground in Gaza would have shown Israel that the international community was united against terrorism. Israel's allies would have had more say over how the war was conducted and how aid would be distributed.
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More importantly, a broad international coalition that included other Arab countries could have established a transitional government in Gaza capable of maintaining law and order, providing essential services and ensuring that Hamas wasn't able to reassert control when Israeli forces pulled out.
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But the rest of the world wasn't willing to lift a finger to eliminate the terrorist threat posed by Hamas and further the cause of peace in the Middle East.
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Thus here we are, nearly 22 months later. Israel is still at war. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Mideast peace is as elusive as ever. And world powers seem to think that gathering a bunch of politicians together for a drab UN confab will somehow bring about a solution for peace that has eluded everyone for nearly a century.
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That conference, which was organized by France and Saudi Arabia and held earlier this week in New York, was billed as a means of finding a path towards a two-state solution. This is a policy that has long been favoured by Canada and many of its allies. But it has some major obstacles to overcome, including the fact that none of the parties involved seem particularly interested in it.
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A recent Pew poll found that only 21 per cent of Israelis support a two-state solution, the lowest number since the survey began in 2013, with 75 per cent citing a lack of trust as a 'major obstacle' to peace — and who can blame them, after the October 7 massacre? Israel's government, which rests on the support of ultra-nationalists intent on annexing the territories, is also firmly against Palestinian statehood, arguing that it would be akin to a reward for terrorism.
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In the West Bank, a Gallup poll released last fall found that support for a two-state solution was also near historic lows, with only 28 per cent support. The Palestinian Authority (PA), which controls the West Bank, has rejected numerous offers for statehood over the years and is unlikely to get a better deal this time around. And Hamas, which maintains a grip on power in Gaza, is resolutely committed to the total destruction of the Jewish state.
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How do you force two nations with a long list of grievances and a history of mistrust into a peace that neither side particularly wants? Foreign Minister Anita Anand was right when she said on Monday that, 'Peace is not only about borders and agreements. It is also about shared stories and understanding that humanize all sides and foster trust.'
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But building that kind of trust is a decades-long project that will require serious reform of the hate-laden Palestinian education system and cannot be achieved so long as some Palestinians are intent on massacring their Israeli neighbours.
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So, it would seem, a growing list of countries are attempting to will a two-state solution into existence by unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state that simply does not exist.
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While there is no single definition of what constitutes a state, they are generally believed to includes four key elements: a population, a clearly defined territory, an established government and sovereignty. 'Palestine' currently lacks most of those things.
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The two Palestinian territories are noncontiguous and the borders of the West Bank are yet to be defined under international law. They are controlled by different governments, one of which is a genocidal terrorist organization that lacks international legitimacy. And neither one has full security control, and thus full sovereignty, over their respective territories.
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Carney has conditioned his recognition of a Palestinian state on the PA enacting significant reforms, including a pledge to hold elections next year (something its dictatorial leader hasn't done since 2006), and promised to send $10 million to Ramallah over the next year to help it make those changes.
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There's little doubt that the notoriously corrupt Palestinian Authority government is in serious need of reform, not only if it wants Canada's recognition, but if it has any hope of regaining legitimacy in the eyes of its people and convincing Israel it is capable of reasserting control over Gaza.
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But if foreign handouts alone could bring about the 'legitimate, democratic governance' that Anand said Canada is seeking, the Palestinian territories would be pinnacles of democracy, rather than failed pseudo-states run by a tinpot dictator and a messianic death cult.
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If Canada and the rest of the world truly hopes to bring stability, if not a lasting peace, to the Middle East, they should follow the Macron of 2023, who was willing to send troops into Gaza, not the Macron of 2025, who's intent on playing political games that are purely for show.
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Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Sometimes, such pronouncements made by governments seem completely detached from reality. None of those countries have yet set up an embassy in Gaza City, for example. Nor has Canada commenced a court action against Israel. No country, as far as we know, has attempted to place Benjamin Netanyahu under arrest. But it would be a mistake to shrug about the pronouncements of world leaders, or to dismiss their words as meaningless symbols. 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