Hub Podcasts Canada's retreat on Israel is another black mark on our reputation
Sep 26, 2025
Ariella Kimmel, Vice President of Strategic Communications and Development at Winston Wilmot, critiques Canada’s diplomatic shift on Israel. She questions if recent events should have strengthened support for Israel, highlighting issues with unilateral recognition of statehood that undermines peace. Kimmel draws contrasts with Canada's stance on Ukraine and discusses the challenges of a multinational force in Gaza. She advocates for a conditional roadmap for Palestinian statehood tied to disarmament and reform, emphasizing the need for policies grounded in interests rather than symbolism.
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Canada's Significant Foreign-Policy Shift
- Canada once pledged unwavering support to Israel but has now shifted to recognizing a Palestinian state without conditions.
- Ariella Kimmel argues this reversal marks a major and troubling change in Canada's foreign-policy posture.
Recognition Without Conditions Rewards Violence
- Unconditional recognition risks empowering extremists and demoralizing moderates on both sides of the conflict.
- Kimmel warns it signals to Israel that security concerns can be ignored and to Palestinians that violence pays off.
Multilateral Forces Need Real Enforcement
- Multilateral forces without strong mandates have historically failed to disarm entrenched militias in the region.
- Kimmel cites UNIFIL's inability to prevent Hezbollah's rearmament as a cautionary precedent for Gaza deployments.