QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
May 21, 2024
Senator Gold, on May 10, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to support Palestine’s admission as a member. Canada is a long-standing supporter of the two-state solution, but we did not vote in favour of that motion. Can you explain the contradiction?
There is no contradiction, Senator Woo. Canada’s long‑standing position — along with that of many of its allies — is that any progress toward a two-state solution must involve the direct negotiations and discussions between the parties to such an accord. Regrettably, that has not been possible for a very long time, and one can point fingers any which way one wants. However, Canada’s abstention on this reflects long-standing Canadian policy that, indeed, all governments have subscribed to.
Yet, the vast majority of the UN General Assembly, including many of our allies, voted in favour of the motion. I have to say that your explanation — along with the explanation that appears to be coming out on the International Criminal Court, or ICC, request for arrest warrants — sounds like gobbledygook to me.
I see that the government has now imposed sanctions on four Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Will the government also look at imposing sanctions on the Israeli governmental authorities that are aiding and abetting these crimes?
First of all, it is simply incorrect that the government is aiding and abetting these crimes. Nor, with all due respect, is the response gobbledygook. It is the same General Assembly that described Zionism as racism. Majority rule does not necessarily make for principled decisions. Canada’s position on a two-state solution and the conflict is a principled one and shall remain so.
