Liberal MP Anthony Housefather says he will remain in the government caucus despite Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to unilaterally recognize Palestine as a state — a move the Montreal-area MP had previously warned would set a “really bad precedent.”In an open letter, Housefather, who serves as president of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, said he would “continue to work with like-minded colleagues” within the Liberal Party, even as Canada’s stance on the Middle East shifts.“Canada’s position on the conflict in the Middle East has evolved very quickly over the past few days,” Housefather, who is Jewish, wrote. “For almost two years, some within the Canadian population have forced Jewish Canadians and their allies to bear the brunt of hateful speech and actions fueled by the Middle East conflict.”.Though he refrained from repeating past criticisms of Palestinian statehood in the letter, Housefather previously opposed a 2024 New Democrat motion calling for official recognition of Palestine, arguing it “rewards Hamas” and would cause “tremendous pain” for Canadian Jews. “This motion would create one winner and one loser,” he told the Commons at the time. “Most Canadian Muslims will vastly support this motion.”He has consistently argued that Palestinian statehood should only be recognized when there are defined borders and a democratically elected government. .“To change it because a terrorist organization murders Israelis is a really bad precedent to set for the world,” he said.Carney announced the shift in Canadian policy following a cabinet meeting Wednesday, calling the move largely symbolic. “Much has to happen in order for a democratic viable state to be established in Palestine,” said the prime minister. “We fully recognize that.”B’nai Brith Canada condemned the announcement, calling it “dangerously premature” and warning that it could be used by anti-Israel extremists to justify acts of hate.“Recognizing Palestine as a state at this juncture would be premature and could undermine efforts to achieve a lasting peace,” the organization said.
