Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it official: His Conservative government will oppose a bid by the Palestinians to have the United Nations recognize Palestine as a non-member “observer state.” No one really expected otherwise.
Yet it hardly follows that Ottawa need adopt a harshly punitive attitude if the General Assembly does vote this week to upgrade the Palestinians’ status, a symbolic measure but one that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely resists. That would only further isolate Canada from some of our closest allies.
In Parliament on Wednesday Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird warned that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to press for more recognition “will affect our relationship.” There has been speculation that the Palestinian envoy in Ottawa, Said Hamad, could be sent home. The office could be shut. And Ottawa could pare back our aid, $300 million over five years.
But Conservative posturing on this issue, chiefly for Harper’s right wing constituency, is both hollow and self-defeating. Far more Canadians support statehood than oppose it, according to a BBC poll. They wouldn’t thank Harper for giving Palestinian envoys the boot. And our aid funds good governance and the rule of law in the West Bank, which serve Israel’s security interests. Cutting back on that won’t help Israel.
Rather than bluster from the sidelines, Harper could have emulated the more nuanced approach of the British. They say they would consider voting in favour of recognition, provided the Palestinians agree to reopen peace talks without conditions; agree not to press the Security Council for full membership; and refrain from joining the International Criminal Court, which could hear complaints against Israel. Otherwise, the British plan to abstain.
Where Harper said No and waved a very small stick, the British were ready to say Yes if that would serve the purpose of peace. That’s the difference between amateur hour in Ottawa and a credible foreign policy that aims to influence outcomes.
Canada has rarely been more out of step, diplomatically. Only the United States, Israel and a handful of other countries have taken such a hard stance. By now, fully two-thirds of the General Assembly has recognized Palestine as a state. In the Security Council, France, China and Russia have been signalling support, and Britain was open to it. Australia planned to abstain.
Clearly, like U.S. President Barack Obama the world is frustrated with the Mideast stalemate. It is also growing more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. Netanyahu has resisted repeated pleas by Obama to relaunch peace talks to create two states based on the 1967 borders, with agreed-on adjustments. Meanwhile, settlement-building has gone on apace. If Israel won’t recognize Palestinians, the world eventually will. All this makes the Harper Conservatives increasingly isolated.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: editorial
Yet it hardly follows that Ottawa need adopt a harshly punitive attitude if the General Assembly does vote this week to upgrade the Palestinians’ status, a symbolic measure but one that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely resists. That would only further isolate Canada from some of our closest allies.
In Parliament on Wednesday Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird warned that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to press for more recognition “will affect our relationship.” There has been speculation that the Palestinian envoy in Ottawa, Said Hamad, could be sent home. The office could be shut. And Ottawa could pare back our aid, $300 million over five years.
But Conservative posturing on this issue, chiefly for Harper’s right wing constituency, is both hollow and self-defeating. Far more Canadians support statehood than oppose it, according to a BBC poll. They wouldn’t thank Harper for giving Palestinian envoys the boot. And our aid funds good governance and the rule of law in the West Bank, which serve Israel’s security interests. Cutting back on that won’t help Israel.
Rather than bluster from the sidelines, Harper could have emulated the more nuanced approach of the British. They say they would consider voting in favour of recognition, provided the Palestinians agree to reopen peace talks without conditions; agree not to press the Security Council for full membership; and refrain from joining the International Criminal Court, which could hear complaints against Israel. Otherwise, the British plan to abstain.
Where Harper said No and waved a very small stick, the British were ready to say Yes if that would serve the purpose of peace. That’s the difference between amateur hour in Ottawa and a credible foreign policy that aims to influence outcomes.
Canada has rarely been more out of step, diplomatically. Only the United States, Israel and a handful of other countries have taken such a hard stance. By now, fully two-thirds of the General Assembly has recognized Palestine as a state. In the Security Council, France, China and Russia have been signalling support, and Britain was open to it. Australia planned to abstain.
Clearly, like U.S. President Barack Obama the world is frustrated with the Mideast stalemate. It is also growing more sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. Netanyahu has resisted repeated pleas by Obama to relaunch peace talks to create two states based on the 1967 borders, with agreed-on adjustments. Meanwhile, settlement-building has gone on apace. If Israel won’t recognize Palestinians, the world eventually will. All this makes the Harper Conservatives increasingly isolated.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: editorial
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