In his opening remarks, Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken delivered an assessment of Israel's leadership and the urgent need for a two-state solution. Addressing a packed audience in Toronto, Schocken argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long-standing policies have led Israel into its current crisis and that only a radical shift in direction can change course.
"He will be remembered as Israel's worst prime minister," Schocken declared, recalling his 2023 editorial outlining Netanyahu's history of damaging decisions. "Had Netanyahu accepted the idea of a Palestinian state two years ago, the number of dead hostages, dead Israeli soldiers, and dead Palestinians would have been far, far lower."
Schocken accused Netanyahu of deliberately empowering Hamas to sideline the Palestinian Authority and resist meaningful negotiations. The result, he said, was the October 7 disaster – a direct consequence of ignoring diplomatic avenues while backing hardline strategies.
He again urged Netanyahu to support a Palestinian state alongside Israel, referencing both historical precedent and recent international momentum. Citing Mahmoud Abbas's letter to global leaders and Canada's July statement supporting conditional recognition of Palestinian statehood, Schocken made clear that the opportunity for peace, though fading, still exists.
