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Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, the prime minister says
TORONTO — Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday. Carney convened a Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. It came after he discussed the crisis with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who. announced a similiar move on Tuesday. Leaders are under mounting pressure over the issue as scenes of hunger in Gaza have horrified so many.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September, the prime minister says
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September. Carney convened a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation there. Pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood has mounted since French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country will become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Canada weighing recognition of Palestinian statehood: source
Carney expected to meet with cabinet Wednesday to discuss Middle East crisis The Canadian government is weighing whether to recognize Palestinian statehood, and whether that recognition would come with conditions, according to a government source. No decision has been made yet, the source says, but Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to hold a virtual cabinet meeting Wednesday afternoon, at which time the situation in the Middle East will be discussed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows the UN to bring in aid and takes other steps toward long-term peace. The two leaders spoke Tuesday, according to Carney's office, about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the U.K.'s statement on the recognition of a Palestinian state. WATCH | Starmer says U.K. plans to recognize Palestinian state: Media Video | U.K. will recognize Palestinian statehood by fall unless Israel takes 'substantive steps' on Gaza, PM says Caption: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking Tuesday from London as his government faced protests over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, said the U.K's goal remains a 'safe and secure Israel' alongside a 'viable and sovereign Palestinian state.' Open full embed in new tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. France announced a similar plan last week, but without conditions. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday there was "no alternative" to recognizing the state of Palestine and intends to do so at the UN General Assembly in September. Asked last week whether he would follow France, Carney said Canada will continue to support a two-state solution with "a free and viable Palestine living in peace and side-by-side in peace and security with Israel." Days later, Ottawa announced $10 million in funding for the Palestinian Authority's preparations to lead a globally recognized country that includes Gaza and the West Bank. The federal government is also adding $30 million to its humanitarian funding for desperate Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Trump says recognition rewards Hamas Starmer, who is under mounting domestic pressure over the issue as scenes of hunger in Gaza horrify many Britons, convened a rare summertime cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. It came after he discussed the crisis with U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in Scotland on Monday. Trump told reporters he didn't mind Starmer "taking a position" on statehood. But he told reporters on board Air Force One travelling back to the U.S. that recognizing a Palestinian state would reward Palestinian militant group Hamas. "You're rewarding Hamas if you do that. I don't think they should be rewarded," he said. Starmer said Tuesday that Britain will recognize a Palestinian state before the United Nations General Assembly "unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution." "And this includes allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid, and making clear there will be no annexations in the West Bank," he said. Israel's Foreign Ministry rejects British move Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects the two-state solution on both nationalistic and security grounds. "The shift in the British government's position at this time, following the French move and internal political pressures, constitutes a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages," Israel's Foreign Ministry said on X. Starmer also repeated U.K. demands that Hamas release all the hostages it holds, agree to a ceasefire, disarm and "accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza." In a televised statement, he said that his government will assess in September "how far the parties have met these steps" before making a final decision on recognition. Britain has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict. But Starmer said Tuesday Britain was willing to take the step because "the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many years." He said that despite the set of conditions he set out, Britain believes that "statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people." Announcement follows France France would become the first among the G7 to recognize a Palestinian state. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe. As with France, British recognition would be largely symbolic, but could increase diplomatic pressure for an end to the conflict — especially as Starmer appears to have the tacit approval of Trump. Both Israel and Hamas are facing pressure at home and abroad to reach a deal following almost two years of war, with the humanitarian situation inside Gaza deteriorating and Israelis worried about the conditions in which hostages are being held. Netanyahu condemned Macron's decision, saying that such a move "rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy."
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Palestinian state recognition is a one shot opportunity for Starmer – but what does he want to achieve?
Keir Starmer will go into his emergency cabinet meeting this week under immense political pressure to change government policy and recognise a Palestinian state. The question which will be troubling the prime minister though will not be whether he wants to recognise Palestine as a country, but determining when formal recognition will have maximum effect. The problem is that recognising a state is a one-time move. Unlike a Brexit agreement or a trade deal, there is no going back to rework some of the details further down the line – with this, there is no room for error. That means for Sir Keir to do it he has to be sure it will achieve the goals he wants. The issue will be whether solving a political problem is more important than using it to achieve peace. Current policy The current policy is to support a two-state solution and to recognise a Palestinian state as part of the peace process - without specifying when this would be. Sir Keir has gone further and said in a strongly worded statement on Thursday that a Palestinian state is 'an inalienable right' of the Palestinian people. For some this was taken as a strong hint that he is edging closer to actual formal recognition. The reason it is important is that once a state is formally recognised, it gains diplomatic status and can in theory be recognised by international bodies – so the move would not be purely symbolic. Added to that, the UK's historic status as the former colonial power which effectively created the modern state of Israel through the Balfour Declaration gives recognising a Palestinian state added symbolic weight. Political pressure President Emmanuel Macron's decision on Friday to announce that France would be the first G7 country to recognise Palestinian statehood has ramped up pressure on Sir Keir to follow suit. Already his cabinet is split over the issue, with figures like justice secretary Shabana Mahmood and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner pushing for recognition, while others like chancellor Rachel Reeves are more sceptical of an early move. Recognition is backed by a clear majority in the Labour Party though, and Jeremy Corbyn's new party on the left – which has made Israel- Palestine its primary policy area – adds even more pressure. With more than 200 MPs from nine different parties signing a letter backing the proposition there is also clearly an appetite for it in Westminster. But weighing on the other side is Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), which is a group made more powerful by the need within Labour to repair the damage of the antisemitism which was allowed to flourish under Corbyn's leadership. It also has the support of a number of senior cabinet members. LFI backs a two-state solution and eventual recognition of a Palestinian state but warns that if the UK goes for recognition early, it will waste an opportunity to maximise the effect. All about Trump Over the weekend minister James Murray pointed out that 140 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, but it has had no effect on the peace process. There is a sense that it will destroy what is left of the UK's dwindling influence with Israel, although given Benjamin Netanyahu's attitude to international criticism that ship may have already sailed. The problem is that US secretary of state Marco Rubio was very critical of France's statement last week, and there was speculation that Starmer did not want to broach the recognition question until he had his bilateral with Donald Trump in Scotland out of the way first. But the UK government now seems to understand that the only way to get Israel back in line and for the peace process to restart is for Trump's administration to force everyone's hand. There is a danger that if he goes ahead with recognition of a Palestinian state, he may lose that last bit of influence he has on the White House. But in the end Sir Keir is a prime minister respected abroad but losing control at home. He may decide that the political problems recognition solves domestically are worth doing it even if it has little or no impact on the peace process.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour-run council approves controversial plan to fine locals £100... for SWEARING
A Labour-run council has approved a plan to fine locals up to £100 for swearing, drinking and 'misusing' public spaces. The crackdown on antisocial behaviour will be enforced in four seaside hotspots in Kent. Thanet District Council announced the bid to enforce the new public space protection order (PSPO) earlier this month in Birchington, Margate, Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. The newly approved order will make it an offence to refuse to stop using certain language if requested to do so by an officer. Under the order, the language restricted is described as 'foul or abusive language [used] in a manner likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to a person within hearing or sight, judged by the standards of a "reasonable person".' The council said the plans were introduced because of a rise in antisocial behaviour in Kent. They were approved on July 24 and will come into force after the required legal notice period. A spokesperson said: 'The Proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday 24 July 2025. 'The PSPO was put forward with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour in Thanet's main towns, and is similar to previous PSPOs in place between 2018 and 2024. 'They mirror the same restrictions in place across many other districts and boroughs, including in other parts of Kent in line with powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. 'There was strong support for proposals in response to a recent public consultation, with a majority of respondents indicating agreement.' In addition to swearing, the order also restricts gathering in anti-social groups, misusing public places, excreting bodily fluids, consuming alcohol, consuming legal psychoactive substance, and causing humiliation or degradation. In the first instance, anyone found to be breaking the rules will be spoken to by enforcement officers. However, if the behaviour continues, fines of up to £100 can be issued. The council initially tried to introduce the PSPO in July 2024 but the proposals were scrapped after the Free Speech Union (FSU) blasted them as 'draconian' and threatened legal action. Commenting on the order's approval, Councillor Heather Keen, Cabinet Member for Communities at Thanet District Council, said: 'We've listened and these measures are designed to reassure residents and set clear expectations around acceptable public behaviour in Thanet. 'It crucially provides us with the tools to intervene earlier which we hope will successfully prevent situations from escalating. 'The overwhelming support from local people, businesses and the police during the consultation process is evidence that these measures are welcomed. 'Every year our residents tell us feeling safe is a top priority. 'I'm proud to say that we've listened and hope this serves as a reminder that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated in Thanet.' Councillors have said that signs explaining the PSPO's rules will be displayed in each town. A report explained: 'The causes of this are complex and the PSPO is recognised by all of those working with such behaviour as being one of the effective tools for dealing with this. 'The Council sought to implement a PSPO in similar terms to the one that it is currently proposed in the summer of last year. 'This was however subject to the threat of legal challenge. As a result, a decision was made not to implement this PSPO.
