OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper has reiterated Canada’s support for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians during a phone call to newly re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statement from Harper’s office on Sunday was more muted than statements made recently by U.S. President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
It was the first time Harper and Netanyahu had spoken since Netanyahu secured a victory on Tuesday. Harper congratulated his counterpart for the re-election, his office said.
In the final days of the hotly contested campaign, Netanyahu said he would not support the creation of an independent Palestinian state. That position flew in the face of that traditionally taken by the U.S., Europe and Canada.
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A statement from the prime minister’s office said that Harper had reiterated the government’s “resolute commitment” to Israel’s security.
“The Prime Minister reiterated Canada’s long-standing position in favour of a two-state solution,” wrote press secretary Carl Vallee.
By contrast, Obama has expressed disappointment with Netanyahu’s election rhetoric, warning it might set back the pursuit of peace in the region.
“We indicated that that kind of rhetoric was contrary to what is the best of Israel’s traditions. That although Israel was founded based on the historic Jewish homeland and the need to have a Jewish homeland, Israeli democracy has been premised on everybody in the country being treated equally and fairly,” Obama told the Huffington Post on Friday.
READ MORE: Obama takes Netanyahu ‘at his word’ on Palestinian state
“And I think that that is what’s best about Israeli democracy. If that is lost, then I think that not only does it give ammunition to folks who don’t believe in a Jewish state, but it also I think starts to erode the meaning of democracy in the country.”
French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said Friday that President Francois Holland had emphasized to Netanyahu Israel’s responsiblity vis-a-vis regional stability.
“Only the creation of a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, living peacefully and securely side-by-side with Israel, can allow us to ensure peace and prosperity in the Middle East,” said Fabius.
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