Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1437 - Canada Recognizing Palestine as a State with Jack Cunningham, & Peter Biro

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Jack Cunningham and Peter Biro on: Should Canada recognize Palestine? Brian hosts them on to discuss Canada's recent announcement to recognize the Palestinian state.Jack and Peter believe the decision was flawed, as it rewarded terrorism, reduced chances for a negotiated settlement, and recognized a state that did not exist. They also criticize the decision for being morally and practically flawed, and emphasize the need for a coherent approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They criticize Keir Starmer's approach, highlighting that it operates as a rebuke to Israel rather than supporting Palestinian human rights. Jack emphasizes that Hamas's military defeat is necessary for peace, and he questions the incentives created by recognizing a Palestinian state, which could encourage Hamas to dig in its heels. Peter believes that the recent calls for recognizing Palestine as an independent state by countries like Canada, Britain, and France are part of a broader trend where Israel's legitimacy is increasingly questioned in international human rights discourse. He argues that while the focus on Palestinian rights is important, the current emphasis is on challenging Israel's founding and ongoing actions, particularly regarding the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Peter warns that Canada's shift in position could deepen polarization and insecurity among Jewish people, as support for Palestinian statehood might be misinterpreted as anti-Semitism.Jack is Fellow and Assistant Professor at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, where he teaches in the International Relations Program. He is also Program Coordinator at the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History and former editor of “International Journal”, Canada’s leading journal on international affairs. In addition to his academic writings, he is a frequent commentator in the media on world events, including several opinion pieces on the war in Gaza and Canadian policy in the Middle East.Peter L. Biro is a lawyer, NGO leader, and the Founder and President of democracy think-tank, Section 1. He is a Senior Fellow of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and of Massey College, and Chair Emeritus of the Jane Goodall Institute. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, where he teaches constitutional law. Peter served as a Governor of the University of Haifa and has written and commented on the Arab-Israeli conflict and on developments after the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.