Canada’s prime minister calls for establishment of a “free and viable Palestinian state,” excoriates Israel for taking steps to block Palestinian statehood.
By World Israel News Staff
Canada will enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant should either of them ever visit Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney warned last Friday.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by Bloomberg, Carney said that he would uphold the pledge by his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, to have Netanyahu and Gallant arrested upon their arrival in Canada.
“Yes,” Carney said when asked by interviewer Mishal Husain if he would enforce the ICC arrest warrants.
Carney took Netanyahu and his government to task for their opposition to Palestinian statehood and defended Canada’s recognition of unilateral Palestinian statehood.
“Let me be clear about why we did what we did. It was because the actions of the… Netanyahu government were explicitly designed to end any possibility of a State of Palestine – in violation of the UN charter – and going against Canadian government policy of whatever political stripe since 1947.”
“We did this because the prospect was receding, as opposed to viewing it as any sort of panacea, game-changer, fundamentally, immediately leading to the outcome that we and others want.”
Carney acknowledged America’s opposition to the move at the United Nations last month to recognize Palestinian statehood without a final status agreement with Israel, while emphasizing the widespread support internationally for recognition.
“Yes, the US disagrees with the decision that we took, that Spain took, that France took, that the United Kingdom took, [and that] 150 other countries in the UN have taken, but our common objective is the same.”
The Canadian premier said that Ottawa’s symbolic recognition of Palestinian statehood was only a step towards the ultimate goal of a “viable” Palestinian state.
“The end is a free and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel. That is the end goal.”
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