Republican Lawmakers Warn Canada of Potential ‘Punitive Measures’ for Recognizing Palestinian State – The Epoch Times

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 25, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

U.S. Republican senators and representatives say Canada may face negative repercussions for unilaterally recognizing Palestinian statehood.

“Proceeding with recognition will put your country at odds with long-standing U.S. policy and interests and may invite punitive measures in response,” the lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 19 letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of his participation in the U.N. General Assembly in New York City this week.

The letter was signed by prominent U.S. lawmakers such as Sen. Ted Cruz and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, as well as two dozen other Republican lawmakers from both chambers. The letter was also sent to the leaders of Australia, France, and the United Kingdom, who have also recognized Palestinian statehood.

Carney had first indicated in July that Canada would recognize Palestinian statehood at the next U.N. General Assembly, a pledge he followed-through on during the conference on Sept. 21.

“This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace,” said the U.S. letter, adding the move sets a “dangerous precedent” of violence over diplomacy  as the preferred path for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their goals.

“Accordingly, we respectfully request that you reconsider your decision, especially as Hamas continues to hold Israeli citizens hostage while still refusing to agree to a ceasefire,” they wrote.

The Republican lawmakers said there is a link between the stance adopted by the countries recognizing Palestine and the rising anti-Semitic attacks Jews are facing there. “Sadly, your actions to legitimize a Palestinian terror state will only provide greater motivation to the violent antisemitic mobs,” the letter said.

Carney said his decision to recognize Palestine was predicated on promises from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to conduct reforms. The PA currently only rules over the West Bank, whereas Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. Neither territory has held elections in nearly two decades.

During his announcement at the U.N. on Palestinian statehood, Carney said Canada has always supported a negotiated settlement to the Israel-Palestine conflict to achieve a two-state solution. He added that this possibility has been “steadily and gravely eroded” by Hamas terrorism and its attack of Oct. 7, 2023, as well as the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Israel’s military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established … in this context Canada recognizes the State of Palestine,” Carney said.

Until recently, no G7 country had made such a recognition, while over 75 percent of U.N. member states recognize Palestinian statehood.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to the statehood recognition by saying that the Western leaders involved are “rewarding terror with an enormous prize.”

“And I have another message for you: It’s not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River,” he said on social media Sept. 21, adding that Jewish settlements would continue to be established in the West Bank.

Some countries have remained steadfast in their support of Israel, including its chief ally, the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke before the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23 and commented on the Israel-Hamas war, saying he’s been “deeply engaged” to reach a ceasefire while blaming Hamas for rejecting “reasonable offers to make peace.”

“Now, as if to encourage continued conflict, some of this body is seeking to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists, for their atrocities,” he said.

After Carney had announced Canada would recognize Palestinian statehood in late July, Trump had initially said it would make it “very hard” to reach a trade deal with Canada, while adding later it was not a “deal breaker.”