'Dangerous and premature': Canada's Jewish advocacy groups decry Carney's Palestinian announcement
Jewish groups in Canada reacted swiftly and negatively to Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement Wednesday that the country will recognize a State of Palestine at the United Nations in September.
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Carney told reporters that the recognition was conditional on the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, going forward with significant reforms including demilitarization and holding a general election in 2026. He also accused the Israeli government of failing to 'prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza.'
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Today, the Prime Minister stated that Canada will pre-emptively recognize a Palestinian state. This is predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, notorious for his corruption, lack of democratic credibility, and funding of…
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) July 30, 2025
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Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, released a statement Wednesday on what the group called 'Canada's Middle East Position.' The CIJA is the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, representing Jewish Federations across Canada.
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'Today, the Prime Minister stated that Canada will pre-emptively recognize a Palestinian state,' Shack said. 'This is predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, notorious for his corruption, lack of democratic credibility, and funding of terrorists.'
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He continued: 'Extending recognition absent real change on the ground is a recipe for another failed Palestinian pseudo-state controlled by terrorists. It is deeply concerning that the government did not make statehood recognition contingent on the removal of Hamas from Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages. This only emboldens Hamas and condemns Palestinians and Israelis — including the hostages and their families — to more suffering.
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