EXCLUSIVE: Canada drops recognition of Palestinian statehood after Trudeau-Gantz phone call
Jewish News can reveal that war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has convinced Justin Trudeau to abandon the country's recognition of Palestinian statehood in a parliament vote
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has convinced Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to amend the wording of a vote in parliament on Monday by dropping recognition of Palestinian statehood, a source told Jewish News.
The source said Gantz spoke to Trudeau as Canada’s House of Commons debated a non-binding NDP which initially called for an immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood, an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, increasing humanitarian aid into Gaza and an embargo on arms trade with Israel.
Gantz phone call with Trudeau caused his party to amend the proposal on the table by replacing “officially recognise the State of Palestine” with a call to “work with international partners to actively pursue the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, including towards the establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”
Israel’s Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed criticised the initial motion which included recognition of Palestinian statehood, saying it “rewards Hamas — a listed terrorist organisation by the Government of Canada — for its sadistic attack. Empowering terrorists will only evoke more bloodshed and jeopardise any peaceful resolution to the conflict.”
A number of countries have debated whether to recognise Palestinian statehood in recent months, including Spain, Norway and Ireland.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has previously said that his government supports the recognition of a Palestinian state but that such a decision should be made collectively in the EU as “more significant statement.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.