WINNIPEG – Union federations representing millions of workers in France, the United Kingdom, and Canada have issued a joint statement urging their respective governments to formally recognize the State of Palestine. The call was made in advance of a now-postponed United Nations conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, co-chaired by France in mid-June.
The unions welcomed recent statements by French, British, and Canadian leaders supporting an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza and calling for unimpeded humanitarian access. They described these as important initial steps to alleviate civilian suffering.
However, the union leaders said that โwords must be matched by action.โ Their statement called on governments to use all diplomatic, legal, and economic means to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, ensure Israel meets its obligations under international humanitarian law, and launch a credible political process for a just and lasting peace. The unions argued that formal recognition of a Palestinian state by G7 countries would send a powerful signal ahead of the UN conference.
The statement comes as Canadaโs Jewish community faces an unprecedented surge in antisemitic incidents. According to Bโnai Brith Canadaโs Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, 6,219 incidents targeting Jews were reported in 2024, the highest number since records began in 1982.ย
The audit documented a 7.4 percent increase from 2023 and a 124 percent rise since 2022, with incidents including harassment, vandalism, threats, and violence.ย Bโnai Brith Canada described the situation as a โstark warning for Canadian society,โ attributing much of the increase to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Jewish advocacy groups have expressed concern that calls for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and harsh criticism of Israel may contribute to an already hostile environment for Jews in Canada and elsewhere.
Richard Robertson, Bโnai Brith Canadaโs Director of Research and Advocacy, stated, โAntisemitism is not only a blight on Jewish people. It is an attack on Canadian values and a threat to our multicultural, diverse society.โ
The Canadian government has not formally recognized a Palestinian state, maintaining that recognition should come through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal officials have condemned both antisemitism and Islamophobia, pledging to protect all communities and support a two-state solution achieved through dialogue.
The debate over recognition of Palestinian statehood and the safety of Jewish communities in Canada and abroad remains at the forefront of public discussion.
This article is based on verified information from Bโnai Brith Canada, The Jewish Chronicle, the Toronto Sun, Law360 Canada, and official union and government statements.