Canada and UK Recognize Palestinian Statehood
A conversation on Palestine, Israel, and the new diplomatic divide
This week, our planned interview fell through. But given the sizeable shift in foreign policy from Canada and the UK this week, it odd not covering this in our usual issues scan. So, we turned the mics back on and recorded this episode.
For context, in recent days, Canada, the UK, Australia, Portugal, France, and others formally recognized the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly. It’s a historic development—one that represents a dramatic shift in tone and policy, particularly for countries like Canada.
For us Percy and I, it also represents a red line.
This episode is not business-as-usual. We don’t come with jokes or beer reviews. We engage in a direct, difficult, and heartfelt discussion on what this diplomatic recognition means—for the peace process, for Israel’s place in the world, and for Jewish communities watching these developments unfold with deep concern.
🕊 What we talk about:
The sharp contrast between past and present Canadian policy on the Middle East
Why recognizing Palestine now—without negotiations, conditions, or hostages released—feels like a reward for October 7th
The legacy of the Oslo Accords and what’s been lost since
Legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people—and the failure of their own leadership to deliver peace
Criticisms of the Netanyahu government, both domestic and international
The rise in antisemitism in Canada, the UK, and beyond
Why diplomatic isolation may hurt Israel long-term—and embolden its enemies
The risk of performative politics overtaking substantive peacebuilding
“If you’re being praised by those who took hostages, you might want to rethink your foreign policy.”
-Andrew Percy
We understand this is a deeply emotional and often polarizing topic. We do our best in this conversation to engage it honestly, with respect for the gravity of the moment and an openness to different views.
We’ll return to this issue in a future episode—with expert voices to provide further perspective.
—Joseph
Wow, thanks for the thoughtful and detailed comment. As you say, we won’t be in full agreement, but I appreciate the tone, approach, and thoughtfulness of your response.
I think I knew the position both you'd take on this announcement, and can definitely see the point of view that this announcement seems to reward Hamas/terrorism. My position on this is probably 70-80% aligned with yours: Canada should (and is) continue to support a negotiated, two-state solution. Both indigenous Israelis and Palestinians, who have a deep, centuries-long history in that region, have a right to a homeland, lasting peace, and dignity. Antisemitism in Canada, and its exponential growth since October 7, is despicable and should be condemned without conditions or restraint, and Canada needs to do more to protect Jews living in Canada from hate.
Where I think the deviation happens is the emphasis on the state of Israel (the administration/government) as somehow being unfairly treated, or held to some impossible standard. You (Andrew more so than Joseph) seem to keep referencing some of the protesters we see in the UK and Canada, people waving Palestinian flags, some of the more extreme subgroups within that population, as though they represent the rest of us who have the views I wrote above (and which you probably both align with). They do not represent my views. I'm not anti-Zionist, per se. But I do see the context in which Canada has sided with much of the international community, and why they made this announcement within this context. The PM statement made it very clear what the message is: the way I read it, it's not a reward for Hamas or terrorism, so much as it's a recognition that Netanyahu's government has crossed too many lines and is committing mass starvation and genocide (whether it rises to the international law standard or not).
If Hamas or some terrorists or some extremist anti-zionist protesters are celebrating the announcement, that's not in the PM/Canada's control. What is in their control is to take a position, in this current context, to send a message loud and clear to Netanyahu's government that Canada is not going to accept a genocide. IMO it's way too late to make this statement, but better late than never.
As for whether this is going to move the peace or negotiation for a two-state solution forward, it won't. But was a negotiated peace possible to begin with, given what Netanyahu has done? I'd rather Canada arrive at the conclusion most of their peer countries concluded much sooner and put pressure on Netanyahu, and support the Israelis in his own country protesting his genocide, than stick to a position of being an unconditional friend to Israel that, in this context, is morally unjustifiable.