Canada recognizing Palestinian statehood right now would be a 'grave mistake': Israel
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'Such a step would amount to an unconscionable reward for the heinous Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 — an attack marked by mass murder and the brutal kidnapping of innocent civilians, including Canadian citizens,' it said in an emailed statement to National Post on Wednesday.
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'Rather than advancing peace, it would legitimize violence and severely undermine international efforts to restore stability and security in the region.'
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The statement comes after chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada Mona Abuamara told The Canadian Press she feels that Canada is getting closer to formally recognizing Palestinian statehood. In an article published on Wednesday, she said the recognition would 'set in stone for Canadians the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.'
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Abuamara has been in the role, which is to promote and strengthen relations between Palestinians and Canada, since 2021. It is coming to an end after her four-year term. She was appointed by a government that only has control of the West Bank, not the Gaza Strip, CP said. She is still pushing for Canada to take a harsher stance on Israel's actions in Gaza, and has commended Canada for its recent use of 'tougher language.'
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'Accountability means everything to the Palestinian people. That's all we are looking for,' said Abuamara. 'Canada could have done better and must do better.'
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Canada's approach to the conflict in recent years has been to support Israel 'without budging,' she said. Meanwhile, the Palestinian territories received funding for smaller projects, such as police training. The mentality was that the Palestinian territories would be 'managed under the occupation,' she said, adding that she was looking to Canada to 'get rid of that occupation instead, so we could make our own money.' Israel maintains that it withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
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Abuamara praised the Carney government for making 'stronger, clearer statements,' and mentioned comments made by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. Speaking to reporters in May, Anand said Israel used food as a political tool and that more than 50,000 people have died as a result of Israel's 'aggression.' That number, which cannot be independently verified, was provided by the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
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