Mike Fegelman: Mark Carney is committed to rewarding Hamas terrorism with statehood
It is taken as a central tenet in responsible governance that terrorism is not an acceptable method of statecraft. Deliberately murdering innocent people for political ends is to be condemned and not rewarded.
Article content
But not anymore.
Article content
Article content
On May, 19, the Carney government released a joint statement with the leaders of the United Kingdom and France saying that he is 'committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end.' This begs the question: after decades of not doing so, what materially has changed?
Article content
Article content
Over the last 20 months, following the Hamas terror invasion of southern Israel and subsequent mass murder, rape, torture and kidnapping of Israeli and other civilians, much has changed. Hamas surely knew that its attacks on October 7, 2023 would not destroy Israel (and could very well lead to its overthrow by the Jewish state, the destruction of Gaza and deaths of countless innocent Palestinians), yet it pursued this invasion, knowing that there was a potential for tangible benefit.
Article content
Article content
Hamas knew exactly what it was doing. After all, Hamas is not just a genocidal terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction, but a savvy media operator, disseminating manipulated casualty figures that have been widely and uncritically embraced around the world, leading to international condemnation of Israel and for the world to refocus its attention to the plight of the Palestinians, a cause that at the time was receding from the headlines.
Article content
Hamas knew that condemnations of its attack would be short-lived, and that Israel would almost instantly be seen as the villain, which was part of its goal while also seeking to obstruct Saudi Arabia's making peace and normalizing relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords.
Article content
Article content
There is a direct line between Hamas' October 7 massacres and the proposed recognition of a Palestinian state by the Carney government. If there had been no invasion 20 months ago, there likely would not be any such recognition. Those attacks may not have guaranteed such a recognition, but a recognition would not have taken place without them.
Article content
What, exactly, would Canada be recognizing? Gaza has been under the despotic rule of Hamas for nearly 20 years; is that the regime which Ottawa would be granting with formal recognition, even though Hamas remains a banned terrorist organization in Canada? If not Hamas, then whom, since there is no other Palestinian governance in place in that territory.
Article content
Hamas is a terrorist organization that murders its political opponents, while the Palestinian Authority is a corrupt kleptocracy that continues to funnel money to the families of dead terrorists through its pay-to-slay program. Its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, is a dictator who this past January started his twenty-first year of his first four-year term.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
4 hours ago
- National Post
Man who killed four members of Ontario Muslim family appealing convictions: doc
A court document shows a man convicted of murdering four members of a Muslim family and seriously injuring another in what the judge deemed to be an act of terrorism is appealing his convictions on three grounds. Article content A lawyer representing Nathaniel Veltman filed a new notice of appeal in February, nearly a year after Veltman filed an initial inmate notice of appeal. Article content Article content The document says Veltman is challenging his convictions and seeking a new trial on grounds that the trial judge erred in admitting the 'ideological evidence,' and in admitting his statements to police, which it says were obtained in breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Article content Veltman was sentenced in February 2024 to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years after he was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck on June 6, 2021, while they were out for a walk in London, Ont. Article content Article content Forty-six-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal were killed in the attack. The couple's nine-year-old son was seriously hurt but survived. Article content Pomerance ruled the murders, committed by a self-described white nationalist, were an act of terrorism. The case was the first time Canada's terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial. Article content
Toronto Star
4 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Carney defends inviting Modi to G7 as probe of Nijjar's killing continues
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending his decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit later this month — despite the fact that security officials have linked Modi's government to the murder of a Canadian man two years ago. Carney extended the invitation to Modi during a phone call Friday morning and Modi accepted. The summit runs from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alta. During a Friday afternoon press conference on Parliament Hill, Carney said that the G7 summit will focus on forging partnerships with emerging and developing nations. He said it makes sense to have India at the table because it's one of the world's largest economies and plays a key role in global supply chains. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Bilaterally, we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement dialogue. So there's been some progress on that. That recognizes issues of accountability,' Carney said. 'I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.' 'As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit,' Modi said in a social media statement. Modi's comment did not mention the 'law enforcement dialogue' cited by Carney. India's ministry of external affairs issued a statement Friday with similar wording to Modi's comment. Both congratulated Carney on his recent electoral victory. The invitation prompted an angry reaction from the World Sikh Organization of Canada, which wrote to Carney in May asking him not to invite Modi. Tensions have been high between Canada and India since then-prime minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons in September 2023 that 'agents of the Indian government' had been linked to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism shot to death outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesman for the World Sikh Organization of Canada, said Carney's invitation to Modi is a 'betrayal of Canadian values.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'The summit to which Mr. Modi is being invited falls on the anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago,' he said. 'So for us, this is unacceptable, it's shocking and it's a complete reversal of the principled stand that Prime Minister Trudeau had taken.' At the time of his death, Nijjar was organizing a non-binding referendum in Canada on establishing a Sikh state in Punjab, to be called Khalistan. The Indian government rejected Trudeau's accusation and said Canada was supporting 'Khalistani terrorists.' In May 2024, four Indian nationals were arrested and charged in connection with Nijjar's death. In October 2024, the RCMP said it had evidence linking agents of India's government to homicides and other criminal acts in Canada, including coercion and extortion. Soon after, the federal government announced it had expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in relation to what it called 'a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW In a media statement, Global Affairs Canada said it had asked India to waive diplomatic and consular immunities 'and to co-operate in the investigation,' but India declined. India responded in kind by expelling six diplomats, including Canada's high commissioner. On Oct. 17, 2024, the U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Asked about his decision to invite Modi as unanswered questions remain about Nijjar's death, Carney said that it's never appropriate for a leader to talk about a legal process while it is ongoing. Singh said that the World Sikh Organization wrote Carney a letter on May 21 asking that Modi not be invited to the G7. While India is not a G7 member, the country has been invited to the summit by the host nation every year since 2019. 'We didn't want to make this into a public issue but there was no response. There was no acknowledgment of receipt. But this is, it really boggles the mind,' Singh said. 'How can a country that has engaged in criminal operations in Canada, which is engaged in multiple murders, extortions, receive a red-carpet welcome?' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW When asked what his message is for people who are worried about Modi's invitation, Carney said the 'rule of law is proceeding as it should in Canada, and I am not going to disrupt that process.' Naresh Raghubeer, a Canada-India relations expert, said that it's important for Carney to attempt to reset the relationship with the Modi government. 'Let policing matters be dealt with at the policing level, and bilateral relationships that transcend those other matters should be dealt with bilaterally. They're more important considerations,' Raghubeer said. 'I think at the end of the day, a relationship with the world's fourth largest economy, the world's most populous nation, a democratic ally that shares our values, is quite important.' Last week, former prime minister Stephen Harper urged Canada to forge a new path with India during a speech at an event in Brampton, Ont. During a press conference, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said 'we need to work with India and other countries on trade and security.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'So we as Conservatives understand that the invitation is necessary and that we want to see the government work on addressing security issues at the same time as they have when the prime minister has those conversations with the Prime Minster Modi,' Poilievre added. During the final days of the federal election campaign, former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said that in December 2023 he was put under heavy police protection due to a credible threat to his life. He said the RCMP did not identify a specific source for the threat but the implication was that it originated with a foreign government. NDP national security critic Jenny Kwan and foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson condemned the invitation in a joint statement and said they stand with the Sikh community. 'Canadians expect the government to stand in solidarity with Canadians who have expressed their concerns about the (Bharatiya Janata Party) government's record and human rights violations in India,' said McPherson. 'Some of these Canadians live in fear of threat of reprisal against themselves and their families. Canada must stand on the side of human rights, justice, and accountability not diplomatic expediency.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Kwan said that the government 'must explain how justice and human rights are being upheld through this invitation.' Balpreet Singh said the World Sikh Organization doesn't plan on sending further correspondence to the prime minister about Modi's invitation. 'What's the point? I mean, we sent something out on May 21 and received no response,' he said. 'And clearly, our voices don't matter to him.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are among the other non-member world leaders invited to the summit. As of May 28, Sheinbaum had not said whether she would attend. — With files from The Associated Press This report was first published by The Canadian Press on June 6, 2025. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Man who killed 4 members of Muslim family appealing convictions on 3 grounds: doc
Justice Renee Pomerance, left to right, Nathaniel Veltman, and Crown Prosecutor Kim Johnson are seen as the verdict is read in the Superior Court of Justice in Windsor, Ont., in a courtroom sketch made on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Alexandra Newbould A court document shows a man convicted of murdering four members of a Muslim family and seriously injuring another in what the judge deemed to be an act of terrorism is appealing his convictions on three grounds. A lawyer representing Nathaniel Veltman filed a new notice of appeal in February, nearly a year after Veltman filed an initial inmate notice of appeal. The document says Veltman is challenging his convictions and seeking a new trial on grounds that the trial judge erred in admitting the 'ideological evidence,' and in admitting his statements to police, which it says were obtained in breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It also argues the trial judge, Superior Court Justice Renee Pomerance, erred in dismissing a defence application for mistrial. Veltman was sentenced in February 2024 to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years after he was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder for hitting the Afzaal family with his truck on June 6, 2021, while they were out for a walk in London, Ont. Forty-six-year-old Salman Afzaal; his 44-year-old wife, Madiha Salman; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna; and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal were killed in the attack. The couple's nine-year-old son was seriously hurt but survived. Pomerance ruled the murders, committed by a self-described white nationalist, were an act of terrorism. The case was the first time Canada's terrorism laws were put before a jury in a first-degree murder trial. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025 The Canadian Press
