QS wants the National Assembly to recognize the Palestinian state

Photo: Jacques Boissinot Archives The Canadian Press According to Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, QS spokesperson for international relations, Quebec must therefore send a “strong message” by recognizing the State of Palestine.

Florence Morin-Martel

Published at 0:00 Updated at 12:21 a.m.

• Quebec

Québec solidaire (QS) intends to table a motion in the National Assembly on Wednesday for Quebec to recognize the Palestinian state, we have learned Le Devoir.

“The two-state solution, as quickly as possible, is the only one that could allow lasting peace [between the Palestinians and the Israelis]” , said Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, QS spokesperson for international relations, in an interview.

Quebec must therefore send a “strong message” by recognizing the State of Palestine, as Spain, Ireland and Norway officially did last Tuesday, added the supportive MP, regarding the motion which will be presented at the Salon bleu.

With the addition of these three European countries, this state is now recognized by 145 countries out of the 193 UN member states, according to the Palestinian Authority. Canada, for its part, abstained from voting on May 10 on a proposal calling for the inclusion of Palestine in the United Nations.

If there is “increasing consensus” on the two-state solution, said the QS representative, the idea of ​​recognizing the State of Palestine prior to negotiations with Israel is, however, more debated.

Ireland, Spain and Norway, however, highlighted this “full recognition ahead of negotiations” with Israel last Tuesday, Mr. Cliche-Rivard raised. “It’s this movement that we are joining to make our request on Wednesday. »

According to him, this position is currently gaining support, in particular because of the arrest warrants requested on May 20 by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes committed during the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

For “lasting peace in the region”

Last Wednesday, QS had already asked Quebec to recognize the Palestinian state. Joined this same day by Le Devoir, the office of the Minister of International Relations, CAQ Martine Biron, said it had “always advocated for lasting peace in the region” and was “in favor of a two-state solution, at the most appropriate time”. 60~/p>

“As such, we reiterate that Hamas, a terrorist group in control of Gaza, must capitulate, surrender its weapons and release all hostages. We also reiterate our demand for a ceasefire. Now, we want a solution that is negotiated between the parties, as urgently as possible,” wrote Catherine Boucher, press secretary for Ms. Biron.

The Liberal Party of Quebec, for its part, reaffirmed “its support for a negotiated solution which includes the right for Israel to live in peace and security as well as the right of Palestinians to self-determination and the creation of a state”.

The leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, for his part recalled that his party “recognizes [the Palestinian state], because we want a two-state solution”.

Closure of the Quebec office in Tel-Aviv requested

According to Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, there should be no question from the Quebec Office in Tel Aviv in Wednesday's motion. However, in an interview, he reiterated the request made by his party to close or suspend the opening of this diplomatic representation in Israel.

“Our diplomatic relations, all those that “They are, they have a political message,” he argued.

Questioned last week on this subject by the elected representative Ruba Ghazal, the Minister of the French Language, the CAQ Jean-François Roberge, recalled that the government had supported a United Nations resolution on the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Quebec had also demanded an immediate ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages, he added, at the Salon bleu.

“But to link what is happening at the moment with Quebec's international relations, […] I think it's a dubious amalgam”, he indicated, replacing his colleague Martine Biron, who was absent.

With Marie-Michèle Sioui and Agence France-Presse