Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had high hopes for his country’s gesture. The habits of former colonial powers resurfaced: a Palestinian state would be declared, but only on their terms. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds to the idea that Palestinian statehood must never be allowed to eventuate. While condemning unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state as undue reward for terroristic acts, he is convinced that sober and sensible diplomacy could have averted the issue. Israel’s odious ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, is partially right in calling the recent clutch of declarations “empty” in character.