The Conservative Party has argued that recognizing Palestinian statehood in the wake of the atrocities committed by Hamas "sends the wrong message."Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday that Canada will join other nations in doing just that at the United Nations General Assembly in September..Canada to recognize Palestinian statehood in September."Conservatives have long supported a two-state solution — one that allows a future Palestinian state to exist peacefully, securely, and prosperously alongside the State of Israel," the party wrote in a statement. They argued, however, that "recognizing a Palestinian state in the aftermath of the October 7 terrorist atrocities sends the wrong message to the world: that violence and terror are effective tools for achieving political objectives.""If the government recognizes the Palestinian state now, it is impossible that Hamas will not play a central role," the party continued. "Surely, Canadians cannot support validating Hamas with the status of government.".The Conservatives acknowledged that "the suffering of Palestinians is real, and their lives are precious," but placed the blame squarely at the feet of Hamas."A unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, without peace negotiations or a renunciation of violence, destroys the path to a durable, two-state solution," the party warned. "Worse, it legitimizes terrorism by handing political rewards to a group that rules Gaza through fear, oppression, and brutality."They concluded by claiming that while Conservatives have been steadfast allies of Israel, the Liberal government has "turned its back on decades of Canadian support for Israel and has failed to stand up to rising antisemitism and extremism here at home.""Conservatives will not cave to political pressure or reward terror with recognition," they declared. "We stand for peace, security, and the right of our allies to defend themselves against those who seek their destruction."
