Foreign Affairs Committee on Nov. 7th, 2024

[Alexandre Lévêque]

We might get into legal definitions that take me a little bit outside of my zone of expertise, so I don't want to comment on that specifically, but I can reiterate that it is and has been Canadian government policy for a very long time that Palestinians have a right to self-determination.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

What message would Canada's recognition—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You're out of time.

We will now go to Mr. Bergeron for a minute and a half.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Last July, G7 leaders stressed the importance of economic stability in the West Bank, and called on Israel to return to the Palestinian Authority the customs revenues withheld for many years, given its urgent budgetary needs, and to remove or relax other measures in order to avoid further aggravating the economic situation in the West Bank. This is in addition to the other criticisms that Canada raised in justification of its abstention from the resolution that was adopted by the UN General Assembly.

What are we waiting for to make a move?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

If I may, I would ask for a clarification. What exactly do you mean by “to make a move”?

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I'm talking about inaction. Simply condemning the Israeli government with words has not prevented us from arriving at the present situation.

Isn't it time to raise our voices? Shouldn't recognition of the State of Palestine be one of the gestures to be made precisely to signify Canada's impatience with all these violations we've been talking about just now?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Okay. Thank you for that clarification.

You're asking a question that is eminently political.

As I explained earlier, our role is really to give advice, particularly on the ins and outs, the pros and cons. The decision of the moment rests with the government, and it's up to them to make that decision.

I would just say that words are important, especially when a large number of countries unite to say the same words. We should not underestimate the pressure that can be brought to bear by all the G7 countries speaking out, for example, on the release of funds that are being preserved by the Israeli government, even though they belong to the Palestinian Authority.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Respectfully, since 1967, we've done nothing but talk—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I'm afraid you're out of time, Mr. Bergeron.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

—and that has led to the result we have right now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

For the last question, we go to Madam McPherson.

You have a minute and a half.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Again, thank you to the witnesses for being here.

I just want to get some clarity from you with regard to the Government of Canada's position.

Mr. Lévêque, obviously you know about the international court's decision that the illegal occupation of the territories is in fact illegal.

Canada does have a free trade agreement with Israel. I am wondering what the implications would be on the Canadian government if we were to recognize Palestine. Are there further actions that would need to be taken with regard to the fair trade agreement, considering that even at this point we're not adhering to international law by continuing to allow a free trade agreement that has specific indications for human rights abuses that are very clearly being committed?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

This is actually a really important question. I don't want to deflect, but I would like to defer because of the legalities involved in how to interpret. I'm not a trade policy lawyer. The implications that are part of that free trade agreement and how they would translate into a new state of Palestine are too important and too technically specific for me to comment on without a strong base.

I would like to come back to that question. It is a fairly important one.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Would you be able to bring that back to the committee before the end of the study, as in quite quickly?

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I can, with pleasure.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

I think that's all the time you're giving me, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you.

Mr. Lévêque, I have just one final question, if I may.

You did suggest during your testimony that you are comparing notes with friends and allies as to the possibility of recognizing the state of Palestine. We heard from another witness that Japan, France and the United Kingdom are currently going through some semblance of hearings or studies to determine whether it would be appropriate to do so. However, when Mr. Zuberi asked you about that, I didn't quite get a response from you.

I'm wondering if it would be possible for you to look into whether Japan, France and the U.K. are doing anything at the moment to examine that question and the feasibility of promoting peace by doing so. If you could get back to us in the next week as to whether any of those three countries or any other European country is examining the question, we would be very grateful if you could let us know in writing.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

I would be happy to do that, Mr. Chair.

I would also say that to the best of my knowledge, no public exercise like the one you are conducting in this committee is taking place in any of those countries. Of course, like the good policy planners and functionaries of the state that they are, my colleagues in the foreign ministries of these countries are having reflections very similar to the one we are having right now.

I will endeavour to come back to you and do a little bit of research to see if any of what they're thinking is taking place in a public setting like this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

It could be in a public setting or by their parliamentarians, or maybe not by the government but by other entities.

[Alexandre Lévêque]

Indeed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you very much. That concludes our questions.

Again, thank you for always making yourselves available to us, Mr. Lévêque and Mr. Arbeiter. We are very grateful for your time.

Colleagues, we have one last budgetary item before we leave.

Is it the will of the committee that the proposed supplementary budget in the amount of $3,000 for the study of Canada's advancement of a two-state solution be adopted?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

That's it, right?

Go ahead, Mr. Bergeron.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

I'd just like to ask a question. What justifies this supplementary budget?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Did you want to speak to that, Sacha?