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Canada's Foreign Minister: The Way to a Palestinian State Is through Dialogue with Israel
(Times of Israel) Raphael Ahren - The Palestinians would like Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird to say he's sorry for his government's unabashedly pro-Israel stance. They shouldn't hold their breath. Baird said Tuesday in Tel Aviv, "It's always wise to speak with moral clarity." While Palestinian protestors booed and hurled shoes and eggs at Baird during his visit to Ramallah, ex-chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat released a statement denouncing Baird and urging him to ask the Palestinian people for forgiveness for his country's consistent support for Israel. Baird told the Times of Israel, "We strongly support a Palestinian state. We just believe it's a byproduct of peace negotiations with Israel. The way to accomplish a Palestinian state is dialogue with Israel and not taking unilateral action." "With the anti-Semitism rising in so many parts of the world, it's probably more important today than it was even a few short years ago that there be a Jewish state where people can seek refuge." On Iran, Baird said, "Iran could be a stabilizing element in the region - if they gave up their support of terrorism, cleaned up their human rights record and took a different path on the nuclear program. Iran can play a leadership role in the region and the world. But they have to change course."