Half of Canadians support Carney recognizing a Palestinian state : poll

Half of Canadians support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, though only a seventh believe it will likely lead to peace in the region.

Source: CPAC

Half of Canadians support Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state, though only a seventh believe it will likely lead to peace in the region.

A recent Leger poll released Friday surveyed 1,562 adult respondents online. Statistically weighted to represent Canada’s most recent census data, the poll asked for opinions on the Israel-Hamas war, Canada’s policies regarding the conflict, and the goals of “pro-Palestine” protests over the past two years.

The survey found that half of respondents support Ottawa’s recognition of a Palestinian state, while only 15 per cent said it would likely achieve lasting peace in Israel and Gaza. Conversely, 20 per cent said Canada’s recognition jeopardized hope for peace in the Middle East.

Nearly a quarter of respondents felt “strongly” about supporting Carney’s decision.

Conservative voters were the least likely to support recognizing a Palestinian state, with only 27 per cent in favour.

Excluding those who answered “didn’t know,” 68.5 per cent of respondents supported Carney’s recognition of Palestine, and 31.5 per cent opposed it.

Following Carney’s announcement to recognize the State of Palestine, Hamas, a listed terrorist organization, celebrated the move, calling it “the fruits of October 7.” Conservatives and many Jewish Canadians and Jewish community groups warned that the move lacked incentives for the region to eliminate terrorists and return hostages still held by Hamas.

Over half of respondents reported a good overall understanding of the Middle East conflict, while 39 per cent said they lacked a “good understanding” or any understanding at all.

Canadians also weighed in on the federal government’s relationship with both Palestinians and Israelis.

Over a third of respondents, 35 per cent, said Canada shows the “about right” amount of support to Palestinians. A quarter of Canadians said Canada is too supportive of Gaza and the West Bank, while 14 per cent said Canada isn’t supportive enough.

When it comes to Canada’s relationship with Israel, 30 per cent said Canada is “too supportive” of the Jewish state. Twenty-nine per cent said Canada’s support for Israel was “about right,” while only 13 per cent said the Canadian government hasn’t shown enough support.

NDP voters were the most likely to say Canada is “too supportive” of Israel, at 46 per cent, while Conservatives were the most likely to say the feds are not supportive enough, with 29 per cent saying Canada should support the Jewish state more.

Nearly half of Canadians, 45 per cent, said that both antisemitism and “Islamophobia” are becoming more prevalent in Canada as protests and debate over the Middle Eastern conflicts have taken a domestic stage.

Respondents were asked what they felt the goals of “pro-Palestinian demonstrations” were. Twenty-three per cent thought it was about “showing support” for Palestinians, and 19 per cent believed it was about stopping the war in Gaza.

Others took a more cynical approach to the anti-Israel movement. Thirteen per cent said the protests were explicitly aimed at criticizing Israel, and 11 per cent said the protests served to intimidate Jewish Canadians.

Despite a ceasefire and a peace deal in the works, anti-Israel protesters continue to hold demonstrations in Canadian cities and institutions. Activists even held demonstrations on the second anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack this year despite the peace agreements.