Joint Statement on Palestinian Statehood from Jewish Community Organizations in Australia, Canada, And the U.K.

Ottawa, ON – September 18, 2025 – Today, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the  Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) – the representative organizations of Jewish communities in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom – joined together to voice strong opposition to the intentions of their respective governments to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN later this month.

"We are gravely concerned that our governments’ announced intentions to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN this month are seen by Hamas as a reward for its violence and rejectionism towards Israel, and these announcements have therefore lessened rather than maximized pressure for the hostages’ release and for Hamas to disarm," reads the statement. "Indeed, Hamas has welcomed our governments’ declarations of an intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN later this month as the “fruits of October 7.” Extremists have answered their call for escalations in global violence by carrying out brutal assaults on Jews—citizens of each of our countries."

This joint declaration follows a statement yesterday by Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs CEO Noah Shack about comments Foreign Minister Anand made to the media that discretion for recognizing Palestinian statehood "rests with the country granting the recognition" and that the Government of Canada will "need to see reforms coming into place before any normalization of relations occurs.” 

"Recognition of Palestinian statehood has rewarded Hamas, emboldened extremists, and undermined efforts to secure the release of the 48 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. Minister Anand’s statement that Canada will hold back ‘full recognition’ acknowledges that the government’s conditions have not been met," said Shack.

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