Canada Lifts Restrictions on PLO Contacts

By John Dirlik

In a move that delighted Canadian-Arab organizations and infuriated some Jewish leaders, Ottawa has upgraded its relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization by lifting all restrictions prohibiting high level contacts. Until the long anticipated March 30th announcement by External Affairs Minister Joe Clark, Canadian policy permitted only middle-ranking officials to meet with PLO members.

"PLO decisions and statements of recent months declaring recognition of the state of Israel and their readiness to find an accommodation with it, represent a revision of traditional PLO policy," said Clark. While expressing unwavering support for the security of Israel and concern with "extreme elements" associated with the PLO, Clark declared that "a peaceful settlement requires the participation of the PLO."

Clark's announcement ended what appeared to be a public disagreement between the External Affairs Department and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney over Middle East policy. When, weeks earlier, Clark had praised Chairman Yasser Arafat for his "courageous and constructive" peace initiatives and had hinted at improving ties with the PLO, a spokesman for Mulroney immediately issued a statement denying that Canada was considering changes in its relations with the Palestinian organization. Mulroney's apparent reversal may have been influenced by the fact that Canada recently acquired a seat on the United Nations Security Council and did not want to be the only Western nation not to have formal ties with the PLO.

In his announcement, Clark also recognized the right of Palestinians to self-determination, something his Progressive Conservative government has consistently refused to do, arguing that it would be tantamount to endorsing a Palestinian state. "That interpretation is no longer possible," explained Clark, "because an independent state has been declared and not recognized by Canada."

Such assurances did not console angered Jewish leaders who complained that accepting Palestinian self-determination was de facto recognition of the right to statehood. "Self-determination means a state," said Bob Willmot of the influential Canada-Israel Committee, "and Canada appears to be prejudging the outcome of negotiations."

Dorothy Reitman, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said she was "extremely disappointed" with Clark's decision and accused him of having "muddied the waters" of Canada-Israel relations.

Not all Jewish leaders criticized the move. Stephen Lewis, the respected former envoy to the UN, described Canada's decision as a "necessary and logical step. " He said that Canada had proved its credibility as one of Israel's closest friends and hoped that it now would put some pressure on Israel to negotiate with the PLO, as it would seem, a majority of Israelis want it to do."

Not surprisingly, the PLO representative to Ottawa, Abdullah Abdullah, was pleased with the new developments. Although Canada has still not granted Abdullah the ambassadorial status awarded to PLO representatives by nearly 100 other countries, he is optimistic about continued improved relations. "When I came to this country in 1972, the perception of Palestinians was distorted" said the Jerusalem-born spokesman. "Things have changed since then and they will change even more."

John Dirlik, a free-lance writer from Pierrefonds, Quebec, writes on Canadian and Middle East affairs.

Editor's Note: After US agreement to open a dialogue with the PLO last December, and the March 30 lifting of all restrictions on Canadian diplomatic contacts with the PLO, Israel and South Africa are the only countries in the world maintaining restrictions against official contacts with Palestinian officials. In the case of Israel, the restrictions apply to all Israeli citizens. At increasingly frequent public meetings between Israelis and PLO officials, some Israelis make a point of not violating the restriction by not engaging in formal direct dialogue, and not sitting on the same platform with PLO officials. Others make no such pretense.

The Israeli government has started court actions against some left-wing Israeli Knesset members for meeting with PLO officials in past years. However none of these actions has been brought to a conclusion, and new actions are not being initiated as such meetings occur.