Moving forward on Gaza
On March 18, Canada had its “Charles Schumer” moment.
Just as U.S. Senate majority leader Schumer openly said what many American liberals and Jewish leaders alike thought when he demanded Benjamin Netanyahu step down as Israel’s prime minister, Canada’s House of Commons finally discussed what many Canadians are thinking.
Canada, a laggard, now has a chance to join world leaders in ending this catastrophic tragedy unfolding in Gaza.
Two-thirds of our MPs voted in support of an NDP resolution which expressed outrage at the fact Gaza had become the most dangerous place in the world to be a child, and declared an impending famine as totally unacceptable.
Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government came to office declaring that Canada would be “back.” It is not. It disappointed greatly regarding the Middle East. It did not go “back” to the time of the Chrétien government and the Oslo Accords, when both Israelis and Palestinians trusted Canada to be a key player. During the Oslo peace process, Canada led the committee on refugees.
Former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper broke with the tradition of balance and the Trudeau government tipped the balance even further. Before the vote on March 18, the Trudeau government had a more anti-Palestinian United Nations voting record than even Harper, his famously proIsrael predecessor.
The pattern continued after Oct. 7. Rightly condemning the brutality of the Hamas attack, our government marched in lockstep with the American support of Israel’s plan to destroy Hamas, despite opposition from among many Canadian Liberal MPs.
At the UN, Canada tried to halt ceasefire demands. It cut off support for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) immediately after the Americans acted, despite the pleas of the UN secretary general and all Canadian aid groups working in the area. Canada reversed its decision and restored funding following intense criticism.
Even more striking was the response to Netanyahu’s request to Canada that it refuse backing for South Africa’s appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Unfortunately, Trudeau listened. Canada based its position on the fact that the ICJ was inappropriate because Palestine was not a state.
The NDP, and in particular Edmonton Strathcona MP Heather McPherson, took advantage of an opposition day in Parliament to challenge the Liberal government.
“New Democrats brought this motion forward because we believe Palestinian human rights are human rights, and Canada must not sit on its hands as this horror in Gaza continues,” said McPherson.
The final compromise that removed the promise of leading the West in recognizing a Palestinian state — which 139 nations already have — is disappointing, but the resolution matters.
Despite Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly’s statement that Canadian policy would not be made by an opposition motion, it has.
West Bank settler thugs will now be sanctioned. Firm promises of support for UNRWA and no more arm sales have now been made. The evasive and embarrassing statements to the ICJ will end, and its judgments will be respected.
Finally, Canada moves forward. Not far enough. But it matters to all Canadians who are horrified by the vicious attack on Gaza, the arrogant refusal of Netanyahu to accept a Palestinian state and the dehumanization of Palestinians as their houses crumble, their hospitals lie in ruins and their dreams die.
SHAWKY FAHEL, MSM, IS PALESTINIAN BORN IN JAFFA (TEL AVIV), ISRAEL. HE IS THE FOUNDER OF THE JG GROUP OF COMPANIES, AND THE FOUNDER AND CHAIR OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION CIDO. FAHEL IS THE PRINCIPAL DONOR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR PALESTINE STUDIES FUND AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO.