Avi Benlolo critiques Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent diplomatic engagements with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, highlighting what he sees as a troubling imbalance in tone and moral clarity.

According to Benlolo, Carney’s readout of the conversation with Abbas appears overly supportive despite the long-standing issues of governance and the Palestinian Authority’s failure to curb Hamas and implement reforms.

In contrast, the readout of Carney’s conversation with Israel included strong language regarding settlement expansion, humanitarian concerns, and incidents such as the flotilla, which Benlolo argues undermines Canada’s support for Israel’s security and right to self-defence.

Benlolo stresses that Canada could play a constructive, neutral role as a mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict, encouraging initiatives that promote peace and coexistence rather than using harsh rhetoric or moral admonishments.

He links the Canadian government’s critical stance on Israel to the rise of antisemitism in Canada, noting the correlation between international condemnation of Israel and local hate crimes, particularly in Toronto.

Advocating for a softer, bridge-building approach, Benlolo calls for constructive dialogue, educational reform in Palestinian territories, and interfaith collaboration as practical steps toward peace, emphasizing that respectful engagement could help Canada lead in international mediation efforts.