Canada’s recognition of a Palestinian state is too little too late, student advocates at Carleton University say.
“Canada’s recognition of a Palestinian state is not a step toward justice, but a carefully staged performance,” the Carleton for Palestine coalition said in a statement Friday posted to social media.
The statement alleged Canada’s announcement “does nothing to address the root causes of the violence” and “is meaningless.”
The coalition said Carleton and its Board of Governors are also “complicit in apartheid” for rejecting divestment recommendations and allegedly investing in weapons companies.
The coalition’s statement was endorsed by 17 other clubs, groups and organizations like Independent Jewish Voices Carleton, Faculty for Palestine Ottawa and CUPE 4600, which represents contract instructors and teaching assistants at Carleton.
Canada’s announcement doesn’t change anything for Palestinian and Israeli students who have experienced the conflict more intimately, said Aidan Kallioinen*, the Carleton University Students’ Association vice-president of student issues.
“It’s very much a geopolitical decision that doesn’t have large ramifications on the ground,” Kallioinen added. “At the very least, it’s a step in the right direction.”
The Prime Minister’s Office made the announcement just before the United Nations General Assembly, where Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed Canada’s support to recognize a Palestinian state and for a two-state solution.
“It has been the policy of every Canadian government to support a two-state solution for lasting peace in the Middle East,” Carney told delegates at the assembly.
Canada joins a list of 157 other countries who have already recognized a Palestinian state.
*Aidan Kallioinen has previously contributed to the Charlatan.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Featured image by Spencer Colby/the Charlatan.
