Photo credit: National Post
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s promise that Canada would recognize a Palestinian is prompting mixed reactions among Canadians.
Coast Reporter reports that this is more so with those who have family in the Middle East.
According to Omar Mansour, who is from Victoria, he feels encouraged by Carney’s announcement. However, he believes Canada needs to do more to assist people trying to flee the Gaza Strip.
In his words, “It’s a great step, but it’s just a statement. I’m used to the Canadian government give statements without action.”
Carney announced last week that Canada would recognize a Palestinian state as long as the Palestine Authority holds elections next year.
Taking a contrary position is Raquel Ohnona Look. She’s the mother of a 33-year-old man killed by Hamas in the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel.
Her son, Alexander Look, was killed by Hamas in the attack.
She says, “This is not something that’s acceptable, it’s dismissing us. It is legitimizing terror.”
Also, Rabbi Saul Emmanuel, executive director of the Jewish Community of Montreal, said, “This decision is both misguided and profoundly dangerous. It is rooted in reality, but in the political theatre.”
Meanwhile, the Montreal-based Canadians for Justice in the Middle East has expressed concerns that Carney was placing conditions on recognizing a Palestinian state. It wants the Canadian government to hold the Israeli government accountable for its role in the conflict.
