Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood sparks mixed reactions

Maritimers share their thoughts on Canada’s recognition of the Palestinian state.

Canada’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state is being met with contrasting reactions from Palestinian and Israeli communities in Atlantic Canada.

For Ibrahim Manna, a Palestinian-Canadian in Halifax, the announcement is bittersweet. He called it long overdue, noting that more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

“Very exciting news. It did come a little bit late for the Palestinians but I think it’s time,” Manna said. “Hopefully, at least now, the world has seen what went wrong, where a lot of people are dying.”

Manna said his family in Gaza welcomed the decision, believing it could be a step toward peace.

“They were pretty happy, and they’re on the hope that this is going to make the peace and stop,” he said.

A UN-backed hunger monitor has warned that famine is taking hold in parts of Gaza. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement Sunday that Canada’s recognition is intended to “empower those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas,” stressing that it does not legitimize terrorism.

But representatives of the Jewish community in Atlantic Canada argue the move is premature and undermines the path to peace.

Mark David of the Atlantic Jewish Council said Canada’s approach disregards conditions that should have been met by the Palestinian Authority before recognition was granted.

“The Jewish community is very disappointed that the Carney government has decided to recognize the Palestinian state,” David said. “The framework to achieve peace has always been a negotiated process and none of those conditions have been met.”

David added the decision could embolden Hamas and fuel antisemitism in Canada.

“Since the prime minister announcement in July, we’ve been increased incidents of antisemitism,” he said.

Canada has long supported a two-state solution, envisioning a sovereign Palestinian state existing alongside Israel. The recognition announced this week aligns Canada with more than 150 other countries that have already extended recognition.

For Manna, the hope is that the decision will help bring stability after months of violence.

“Everybody wants peace,” he said. “People want to live life, not wars.”