In Response to the press release issued by Foreign affairs Minister Peter Mackay effectively declaring Canadian support for a siege on the people of Palestine, Palestine House issued the following press release:

Palestine House and the Canadian Palestinian community are disappointed by the decision made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to not have any contacts with the current Palestinian government and suspending assistance to the Palestinian Authority.  The Statement of the foreign affairs Minister is a clear message of a double standard policy. While Canada is punishing the Palestinian people who are the victims of the Israeli occupation, it is rewarding the State of Israel, which never recognized the right of Palestinian people to self determination, and a state that never   fulfilled its obligations under international law and UN resolutions which Canada supports.

Palestine House believes that only through engaging the current Palestinian government in a positive and constructive dialogue can Canada a positive change towards achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Palestine House urges the Prime Minister to reconsider his government’s position and reverse the steps taken by the foreign Minister.