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Abu Ali blamed the recent violence, which has seen Palestinians randomly attack and kill 11 Israelis, and Israeli security forces killing 62 Palestinian assailants as well as protesters, as an expression of frustration over the stalled peace process. “It is basically an expression of no hope,” he said.

There are currently 136 countries that formally recognize the state of Palestine, with North America and Western Europe being the major holdouts. But one of the most recent countries to do so was Sweden, which hoped to empower moderate Palestinians and force Israel back to the table.

“Our hope is that Canada will see that we are a country, that we are a people who deserve a country,” Abu Ali said. “Our hope is the new Canadian government will recognize our rights as a nation. We hope the new Canadian government will give the Palestinians some sort of recognition, or full recognition.”

Trudeau has not said much about Palestine or the Middle East. During the election campaign’s only foreign policy debate, the Liberal leader said his biggest disagreement with the Conservative government’s position was it had “made support for Israel a domestic political football when all three (parties) support Israel.”

In March, he criticized a campaign on university campuses that encourages Canadians to boycott goods and services that come from Israeli companies based in the West Bank and other places claimed by the Palestinians. The United Church supported this boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign in October 2012.

Abu Ali said Canada’s three main parties have been clear on their support for Israel, particularly its right to exist. “We understand that,” he said. “What is missing, and what is not clear is their position on us. And that’s what we care about. We want to know: How do you see us?”

lberthiaume@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter.com/leeberthiaume