00:00Canada recognizes the state of Palestine and we offer our full partnership in building
00:10the promise of a peaceful future for both the state of Palestine and the state of Israel.
00:17Hamas has stolen from the Palestinian people, chased them and cheated them from their life
00:25and liberty and it can in no way dictate their future.
00:29Recognizing the state of Palestine led by the Palestinian Authority empowers those who
00:35seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas.
00:39Since 1947, it has been the policy of every Canadian government to support a two-state solution
00:47for lasting peace in the Middle East.
00:51This position envisioned the creation of a sovereign, democratic and viable state of Palestine
00:58building its future in peace and security alongside the state of Israel.
01:04Over many decades, Canada's commitment to this goal was premised on the expectation that
01:09this outcome would be eventually achieved as part of a negotiated settlement.
01:16Regrettably, this possibility has been steadily and gravely eroded, including by the pervasive
01:25threat of Hamas terrorism to Israel and its people, culminating in the heinous attack of
01:32October 7th.
01:35The accelerated building of settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the soaring
01:42settler violence against Palestinians, actions such as the E-1 settlement plan and the Israeli
01:51government's contribution to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
01:58Hamas has stolen from the Palestinian people, chased them and cheated them from their life and
02:06liberty and it can in no way dictate their future.
02:11But Excellencies, the current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect
02:18of a Palestinian state from ever being established.
02:23And it is now the avowed policy of the current Israeli government that there will be, and I quote,
02:30no Palestinian state.
02:33In this context, Canada recognizes the state of Palestine.
02:51And we offer our full partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the
02:58state of Palestine and the state of Israel.
03:02Excellencies, Canada is under no illusions that this recognition is a panacea.
03:09This recognition is, however, firmly aligned with the principles of self-determination and
03:15fundamental human rights and fundamental human rights in the UN Charter.
03:18And it is fundamentally consistent with the policy of the Canadian government for generations.
03:24We take this action as part of a coordinated effort led by France and Saudi Arabia, a coordinated
03:33effort to provide the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.
03:41Legitimizing the state of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who
03:46seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas.
03:50It doesn't legitimize terrorism.
03:54And in no way does it compromise Canada's steadfast support for the state of Israel, its people,
03:59and their security.
04:01Because that security can only be ultimately guaranteed through the achievement of a comprehensive
04:07two-state solution.
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