A group of five Liberal MPs and one NDP MP are planning a three-day visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank, during a period of renewed friction between Canada and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
“Presence matters; it can help calm things down because internationals tend to encourage better behavior from local players,” said Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi of Pierrefonds-Dollard, speaking to CBC News before the trip.
The delegation intends to meet with civil society organizations, Palestinian refugees, and internally displaced people, as well as Canadian government officials and Palestinian Authority officials. They will also speak with parliamentarians in Jordan on the program’s first day before crossing into Israel the following morning.
The plan follows Canada’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state about three months prior, a move announced ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision drew sharp responses, including opposition from Israel.Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing the UNGA a week after Canada’s announcement, warned against letting a “terror state” be established and criticized other Western countries that joined in recognizing a Palestinian state, such as France and the United Kingdom.
Canada and other nations have stated that Hamas should have no role in governing a Palestinian state.
At the same UN meeting, Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, condemned Israel’s actions in both Gaza and the West Bank as a “crime against humanity” and reiterated that Hamas will not govern Gaza in the future.
Sponsored travel by a Muslim non-profit
Like an earlier cross-party Liberal-NDP delegation in early 2024, this group is traveling on sponsorship from a registered Muslim non-profit called Canadian Muslim Vote.
The sole NDP member on this trip, Jenny Kwan of Vancouver East, has expressed some concerns about obtaining entry into Israel.
Their itinerary also covers the West Bank, an area under Palestinian Authority administration but currently under Israeli control in many aspects. While there, they plan to meet Palestinian families affected by settler activity and discuss democratic reform and institution-building with PA officials.
Kwan cautioned that there could be obstacles at various stages due to Israeli access restrictions in the area. “At any point, anything could happen,” she noted.
If any member encounters entry problems, organizers say the group would regroup and proceed together as a unit. Zuberi emphasized that their status as Canadian parliamentarians should facilitate travel, while underscoring the need for a diplomatic push toward peace. “We are all human beings who deserve to live in peace and security, regardless of our backgrounds,” he said.
Settlement expansion and security concerns
Recently, the Israeli government approved the construction of 764 additional homes in West Bank settlements, a move viewed by many as controversial and, under international law, largely considered illegal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, one of the two Israeli cabinet members sanctioned by Canada earlier this year, described the expansion as a strategic step to strengthen settlements and sustain everyday life, safety, and growth.
Both Zuberi and Kwan stressed the importance of meeting with Palestinians who have faced settler violence, a purpose echoed by a prior West Bank visit from a different delegation.
Although casualties in the West Bank have not matched Gaza’s toll since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, the United Nations reported that about 1,001 Palestinians had died in the territory since the war began two years earlier. The UN has also raised concerns about land seizures for a new settler road and more than 1,000 Palestinians displaced in the West Bank this year alone.
Canada’s stance and travel advisory
Global Affairs Canada confirmed the delegation’s plans and said it remains in contact with the group. The department’s travel advisory for the region cautions against most travel to the West Bank due to a volatile security situation and advises avoiding non-essential travel to Jerusalem.
NDP aims and broader concerns
Kwan is also looking to gather information from locals and officials about the challenges facing a special immigration program for Palestinians fleeing Gaza, as well as a private member’s bill she is pursuing. The bill would restrict Canadian arms firms from providing certain parts and ammunition to the United States, a move she says would close a loophole that currently allows such shipments to go to Israel with limited permits.
With the NDP holding only seven seats in the House of Commons, the bill would require cross-party support to pass. Kwan has found some bipartisan traction, including support from a small group of Liberals, which is unusual in Canada’s current political climate.
Additional notes and context
The article also references an incident in which a Canadian and other international volunteers were attacked in the West Bank. It mentions related reporting on medical corridor reopenings and ongoing security concerns in the region.
Note: The Canadian government says it cannot endorse the bill, arguing it would conflict with allied licensing practices, transparency standards, and appropriate discretion in arms transfers. The Conservative opposition and the Bloc Québécois have also expressed concerns, while the government continues to emphasize diplomacy and security considerations.
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