Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September if the West Bank’s governing body meets certain conditions.
The prime minister saidย the Palestinian Authority must commitย toย holding an election and other democratic reforms.
Carney’s announcement came after he spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier Wednesday โ and follows similar commitments from other allied countries in the past week.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows the UN to bring in aid and takes other steps toward long-term peace.ย
France announced a similar plan last week, but without conditions. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday there was “no alternative” to recognizing the state of Palestine and intends to do so at the UN General Assembly in September.
In the past week, a number of Liberal MPs have called on Canada to follow France’s lead.
Toronto MP Salma Zahidย and Montreal-area MP Sameer Zuberiย said inย social media posts that Canada must join France in announcing its recognition of a state for the Palestinian people.
Fares Al Soud, who represents the Toronto-area riding of Mississauga Centre, said on social media that justice for the Palestinian people “demands recognition.”
Last fall, dozens of MPs from the Liberals, NDP, Blocย Quรฉbรฉcoisย and Green Party joinedย an international call for the recognition a Palestinian state.
Canada has for decades been among those calling for the eventual creation of a Palestinian country that would exist in peace alongside Israel.
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