Carney's recognition of Palestine criticized as Hamas strengthens
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to recognize the state of 'Palestine' nearly a year ago has come under fire as Hamas has grown stronger, rearmed, and carried out daylight executions in Gaza. According to a report, Hamas is on the verge of restarting its war with Israel.
Michael Higgins argues that rewarding terrorists inevitably leads to exploitation, and Carney's foreign policy naivety has enabled this outcome. Despite Carney's call for urgent reforms from the Palestinian Authority (PA), the so-called reforms are described as 'smoke and mirrors.'
PA continues pay-for-slay despite reform promises
A U.S. State Department report revealed that the PA paid US$156 million in 2025 to Palestinian terrorists and their families, despite President Mahmoud Abbas's pledge to end the practice. The report noted that only the 'mechanism' for funneling funds had changed.
PA Finance Minister Estephen Salameh confirmed in February that payments continue: 'With effort and great, almost impossible difficulty, we continue to provide this 60 percent rate of (PA public employee) salaries. We have not abandoned any Palestinian resident, whether they are prisoners or families of martyrs and wounded.'
Hamas rearms as Carney applauds reforms
Global Affairs Canada spokesman Jason Kung stated that Carney welcomed PA measures including social welfare reform, new education materials, a draft interim constitution, and plans for elections. However, critics argue that these steps are superficial.
The State Department report cited two killers and a bombmaker from 2003 who each received US$354,000 in accumulated PA payments, with US$2,541 per month ongoing. Terrorists released by Israel in hostage deals are also in line for large sums.
Children taught to hate Jews, says report
Under PA direction, children are still being taught to demonize and hate Jews, according to the article. Carney's apparent ignorance of these realities is condemned as wilful blindness to terror and militarism in Gaza.
Higgins concludes that the recognition of 'Palestine' was an obvious mistake, as it emboldened Hamas and failed to achieve meaningful reform.
