Since the historical Oslo Agreements, which were supposed to produce a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute based on the two-State solution, the situation has become much worse. Not only is the two-State solution more elusive than ever, but Israeli control over Palestinian lands has become deeper and broader. The human rights situation of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza has severely deteriorated, and the Israeli Peace Camp has evaporated.
How to explain this outcome? Part of the answer can be found by examining Canadian policy towards the parties in conflict. While Canada does recognize that international law applies to the West Bank and Gaza, its actual policy simply ignores this fact. Yet it is coherent: the Canadian policy on key issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/mena-moan/israeli-palistinian_policy-politique_israelo-palestinien.aspx?lang=eng) is formulated in such a way that allows at the same time the affirmation of the principles of international law and their disregard.
After a brief description of international law as it applies to this conflict, and of the Israeli policy of control of Palestinian land, our talk will examine this apparent contradiction in Canadian policy and will provide keys for understanding it.
About the speaker
Rachad Antonius has recently retired from a position of Full Professor at the Department of Sociology, Université du Québec à Montréal. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and an M.Sc. in Mathematics. His publications cover a variety of domains, including political conflicts in the Middle East with a focus on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. He has also done extensive work in the Middle East with NGOs, and consultancy work for international agencies. He has often appeared on major Canadian national channels to comment on the situation in the Arab region.
This event is being co-hosting by the Palestinian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Waterloo and the Global Institutions, Diplomacy and Justice Research Cluster at the Balsillie School.
