Israeli diplomacy has strongly condemned Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that Canada will recognize the State of Palestine, calling it part of a “misguided international pressure campaign” which, according to them, will “strengthen Hamas’s position at the negotiating table at a critical moment.”
In a statement from the Israeli Embassy in Ottawa, it said:
“Recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of a responsible government, functioning institutions, and leadership with genuine intentions is equal to rewarding and legitimizing Hamas’s monstrous barbarity of October 7, 2023.”
Meanwhile, the French presidency has welcomed Canada’s decision, emphasizing that France will work to encourage other countries to adopt the same position, especially ahead of the upcoming UN General Assembly session in September.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Canada to give new momentum to the peace perspective in the Middle East,” the Élysée Palace said in a statement.
“We will continue our efforts so that other countries can join this dynamic before the General Assembly,” the statement added, noting that French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney a day earlier.
