Canada speaks out against violence in Israel, West Bank

The Canadian government on Sunday issued its first statement concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for both sides to seek a two-state solution though negotiations while ending “unhelpful” actions including unilateral Palestinian moves and Israeli settlement activities.

“Canada is concerned by the continued violence in Israel and the West Bank,” Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion said in the statement. “‎The violence has persisted for over 100 days.

“Canada believes strongly in a two-state solution and that negotiations provide the only viable path to peace,” he said. “As a steadfast ally and friend to Israel, Canada calls for all efforts to be made to reduce violence and incitement and to help build the conditions for a return to the negotiating table.

“Unilateral actions, such as Palestinian initiatives toward statehood in international forums and continued Israeli settlements, are unhelpful and constitute serious obstacles to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” Dion concluded.

Hours after being sworn in last November, Dion said in an interview that Canada would strive for a more balanced policy regarding the Middle East, including active outreach to the Arab world.

“Israel is a friend, it is an ally but for us to be an effective ally we need also to strengthen our relationship with the other legitimate partners in the region,” he said.

Ottawa strives to be more balanced, “more open” and more “efficient” in its foreign policy, he told Radio Canada in a separate interview. Siding with Israel only, as the previous governments under prime minister Stephen Harper did, is ultimately in nobody’s interest, he argued.

On October 19, the Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau won the national elections, replacing Harper’s Conservatives, who had ruled the country for nearly a decade. The various Harper administrations were among Israel’s staunchest supporters on the international stage. Trudeau is considered a friend of Israel as well, but widely expected to adopt a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not shying away, for instance, from criticizing Jerusalem’s settlement policies.

Raphael Ahren contributed to this report.