LILLEY: Carney's move on Palestinian State may cost Canada with Trump

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As if Canada wasn’t facing enough obstacles in getting a trade deal with Donald Trump and the Americans, Mark Carney had to go and make it worse.

The prime minister’s announcement that Canada will recognize a Palestinian State this September at the United Nations quickly caught the eye of Trump.

Trump has been a steadfast supporter of Israel in its war against Hamas even if at times he has been at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh’ Canada!!!” Trump posted shortly after midnight.

The singular focus for Trump in the Middle East has been releasing the hostages and getting to a peace deal. Carney should realize that his announcement that Canada will join France, Britain and other countries in recognizing a Palestinian State is actually an impediment to peace.

In fact, it was a statement that Canada signed on to on July 21 putting all the onus on Israel to find a way to a ceasefire that derailed the most recent talks. Days after that statement, endorsed by 26 countries, Hamas walked away from the talks being brokered in Doha.

Why do you need to accept a ceasefire or any conditions when countries such as Canada, Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and others are willing to show support for Hamas while laying no blame on the terrorist group for the situation in Gaza?

That statement was a boost for Hamas, and they took it for what it was worth, walking away from the negotiating table.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy on the Middle East, said Hamas was not being a good partner at the table.

“Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff said last week. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”

Now, Witkoff is back in the region and trying to salvage a peace deal. Trump took again to social media early Thursday to put forward his view.

“The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” Trump posted to Truth Social.

Why would Hamas surrender, though? Why would they release the hostages?

They have been rewarded for their terror attacks, rewarded for the brutality they have shown to their own people and to Israel by having France, Britain and Canada all pledge support for recognizing a Palestinian State within the last week.

This is a major win for Hamas, a major setback for Trump’s attempts to land a peace deal, and now, a major setback in our attempt to land a trade deal with the Americans.

I’m of the view that Canada should not have offered up recognition of a Palestinian State until Hamas had surrendered, released the hostages, and the fighting had stopped. We should not be recognizing a Palestinian State when the people in charge of a large part of what will become that state do not believe in a two-state solution or Israel’s right to exist.

That said, even supporters of moving in the direction that Carney did on Wednesday cannot be so thick that they didn’t foresee what Trump’s response would be.

We are at the deadline and the closest friend and neighbour to the Americans undermines a major policy of the American president. This was an idiotic move on so many fronts, but the timing is boneheaded beyond belief.

I thought we were told that we had adults running the show now, I thought the smart set were back in charge.

All of this makes me wonder, as do other moves by Carney on the trade file, if this isn’t all on purpose. Carney may be setting Canada up to dig in on a trade war with Trump because he knows that it’s politically popular.

Sure, it may cost jobs, put people’s livelihoods on the line, and damage the economy, but much of the Canadian public would welcome a fight with Trump.

If thinking Carney is doing this sounds far-fetched, the alternative is to acknowledge utter incompetence in the highest office in the land.

I’m not sure which is worse.

blilley@postmedia.com