3 Londoners on what they think of Canada's plans to recognize Palestinian state

Londoners with ties to the middle east are reacting to Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement that Canada plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September under certain conditions, with many unsure whether those commitments can be met.

At a news conference Wednesday, the prime minister said the Palestinian Authority must hold an election in 2026, demilitarize the Palestinian state and fundamentally reform its governance in order for Canada to go forward in its recognition.

The announcement follows similar commitments made by leaders in France and the U.K. in the last week.

At a news conference Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, but the West Bank's governing body must agree to certain conditions including committing to holding an election in 2026.

Those in London have mixed feelings about the news, and some say they think Carney's conditions could be a roadblock to meaningful change.

Here is what some Londoners are saying:

It's been nearly two years since Haneen AbdAlnabi came to Canada from Gaza, and she says she still worries daily about the family she left behind.

She said Wednesday's announcement is a positive "first step" in Canada's commitment to helping Palestinians.

"It's the biggest step to recognize Palestine because we've been waiting for this for a long time," AbdAlnabi said. "We've waited for the whole world to recognize us as Palestinians, and recognize that we have a country."

"I was deeply moved by that, but I don't just want recognition. I want more," she said, adding that she wants Canada to send more aid and help families get out of Gaza.

As for Carney's stipulations, AbdAlnabi said she is unsure whether they will be met by September, in part because she does not think there should be any conditions at all.

"There's a lot of conditions and I'm not sure if people would agree to these because I think Palestinians just want peace. The only thing they want is to live in their own country," she said. "It's hard for us to feel that there's conditions for this."

"Now people are feeling, 'Let me live in peace. Don't put any conditions on it, just recognize that I am the owner of the land.'"

The executive director of Jewish London said he thinks there is a "zero per cent" chance that the Palestinian Authority will meet the prime minister's conditions by September, specifically with regard to a 2026 election.

"People [in the Jewish community] are feeling that there is a misguided belief that someone who has been in power for 21 years is going to have an election," said Dean Lavi.

The Palestinian Authority currently controls parts of the West Bank through the Fatah party, while Hamas governs in Gaza. Neither territory has held an election since 2006.

Carney said Hamas cannot play any part in the election he is proposing.

Still, Lavi said the announcement has "emboldened" the group.

"The reality is that this is a prize for terror," Lavi said. "Hamas is only hard in their position in light of perceived and real support by [French president Emmanuel] Macron and by Carney's administration."

Wednesday's announcement also led Lavi to reflect on how Canada has responded to the ongoing conflict over the past two years, as opposed to now.

"If the Canadian government acted on the same political will, action and motivation, then we wouldn't be here today," he said.

For the local chapter of a group that is meant to bring London's Jewish and Palestinian communities together, the prime minister's public support of a Palestinian state is long overdue.

"It is something that needed to be done decades ago and it's the only way that we can move forward with trying to create longstanding peace in the region," said Darlene Zaifman-Guslits, who is the co-chair of London Friends of Standing Together.

She said not only could it be challenging for the conditions to be met, but both Palestine and Israel will need to commit to their promises long-term.

"Along with statehood will come responsibility. Not only does Israel have to step up and start doing things differently, but so do the Palestinians," Zaifman-Guslits said. "Once they have their own state and they have diplomatic ties with the rest of the world, they're going to have to take responsibility for their actions and they can't continue doing the types of actions that led to October 7th."

Zaifman-Guslits said she hopes the recognition of a Palestinian state will help people both on the ground in Gaza, and among Palestinian and Jewish communities in London.

"I really do think it's going to be a game changer. I think it will empower the Palestinian people to realize that they are being recognized, that that their plight is being recognized and that the world does see that things are not equitable," she said.