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OTTAWA — The Canadian government is condemning a move by the Palestinian Authority to join the International Criminal Court in a bid to eventually launch war-crimes prosecutions against Israel.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says the action taken by Palestinians this week is a “concerning and dangerous development.”

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“Such a provocative decision only furthers the divide between Palestinians and Israelis, and will carry unfortunate consequences,” he said.

“Canada has expressed these concerns directly to the Palestinian Authority for nearly four years now.”

The government’s reaction comes as the world comes to grips with the potential implications of the Palestinians’ move.

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After decades of conflict in the Middle East during which peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis went nowhere, Canadians officials and political leaders worry this week’s development could further sink hopes for a long-term solution.