With Prime Minister Mark Carney’s declaration last week that Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the fall, he sent chills down the spine of Canada’s Jewish community. By effectively demonizing Israel, he opened the floodgates for more antisemitic acts in Canada.

The prime minister’s news release lists four factors that are “steadily and gravely” eroding prospects for a two-state solution: West Bank settlements, the Knesset’s vote calling to annex the West Bank, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Hamas terrorism (the government did not criticize, or even mention, the Palestinian Authority’s “pay for slay” policy, which rewards the families of terrorists).

This is a head-scratcher since Israel made two offers in 2000 and 2008 that would have created a Palestinian state. Each was rejected by the Palestinian Authority, which would not give up the right of return for 3.5 million Palestinians. In 2005, Israel’s unilateral withdrawal of security forces and settlements from Gaza failed to make peace; instead, it led to a failed terrorist state controlled by Hamas.

READ FULL COLUMN HERE

Jack Mintz is a board member at the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy and the president’s fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.