Canada’s sterling record of support
By David Weinberg, Israel Hayom
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper, who will visit Israel in 10 days’ time, Canada has emerged as Israel’s staunchest ally in the world.
Yet many observers dismiss Canada as a bit player on the international scene, and write off the relevance of Canada’s interventions on behalf of Israel.
They could not be more wrong.
The record shows that Canada’s support for Israel is comprehensive, concrete and weighty. It is frequently a step ahead of the rest of the world, setting a principled, pro-Israel precedent and example. It is of significant, often critical, diplomatic value.
The senior-most political and diplomatic officials in Jerusalem deeply respect and appreciate Canada’s backing. They hold Harper in the highest regard.
Canada was the first country in the world to immediately suspend direct aid to the Palestinian Authority when Hamas was elected in 2006, because of that terrorist organizations’ refusal to meet the criteria for international legitimacy: an end to violence, unconditional recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements. Harper said: “If institutions committed to terrorism are playing a role in the Palestinian state…that is an indication to me that the road to [Palestinian] democracy has not been traveled very far. Democracy and the continued advocacy of terrorism are fundamentally incompatible objectives.”
Canada’s position was quickly adopted by the U.S. and the EU.
Canada was the first country in the world to withdraw its support from the second U.N. World Conference Against Racism, known as Durban II. Noting the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hate-fest into which the original Durban conference degenerated, the Canadian government led the boycott of the 2009 meeting, and was one of only 15 countries to boycott the Durban III summit in 2011.
Again, other Western allies followed Canada’s lead.
Canada was the first country in the world to robustly defend Israel’s operation against Hezbollah, early during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. Harper said that “responsibility for the escalating violence in the Middle East rests entirely with those who have kidnapped Israeli soldiers. Israel has the right to defend itself.” When many countries urged restraint on Israel, Harper said, “The onus to end this escalation is on the other side, and I would urge them to return the prisoners.” When other countries accused Israel of over-reacting and using disproportionate force, Harper said, “I think Israel’s response under the circumstances has been measured.”
In the aftermath of the war, Harper opposed a one-sided statement at the Francophone summit that sought to deplore the war and recognize the victims of Lebanon. Harper insisted that the resolution recognize losses on both sides.
Canada’s steadfast position ultimately won the support of the other Francophone members and led to a balanced consensus resolution.
During Operation Cast Lead in 2009, Canada likewise stood by Israel against Hamas aggression from Gaza Strip. Then-Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon stated: “Israel has a clear right to defend itself against the continued rocket attacks by Palestinian militant groups which have deliberately targeted civilians. First and foremost, those rocket attacks must stop.”
At the G-8 summit in 2011, Harper blocked American draft language that specified Israel’s pre-1967 borders as the starting point for peace talks, because this ignored other key negotiating framework factors such as recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and demilitarization of a Palestinian state. Harper stood up to pressure from U.S. President Barack Obama and then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
In the end, G-8 leaders conceded the merit of Stephen Harper’s position, and issued a balanced statement urging Israel and the Palestinians to resume negotiations — with no mention of the 1967 lines.
During Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012, Canada vigorously supported Israel’s right to defend its citizens and blamed terrorists in Gaza for the escalation in violence. Foreign Minister John Baird described Israel’s right to self-defense in the context of the broader conflict between terrorism and democracy: “Far too often, the Jewish people find themselves on the front lines in the struggle against terrorism, the great struggle of our generation. … Canada condemns the terrorist group Hamas and stands with Israel as it deals with regional threats to peace and security.”
Canada also has consistently stood up for Israel, often as a lone voice, in the G-20, U.N. Human Rights Council, International Atomic Energy Agency, and U.N. General Assembly. For over three years in the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, Canada stood alone in defense of Israel — eight times casting the only “no” vote against unfair condemnations of Israel. Also in Geneva, Canada played a critical role in getting Israel membership for the first time in the Western European and Others Group, a status that Israel has sought for years.
In November 2012, Baird personally cast Canada’s vote against U.N. recognition of Palestinian statehood. Canada was among only nine countries that voted against this resolution, making the case that it undermined direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations as the basis of Middle East peace. Baird said: “We took a principled stand. We believe that statehood is a product of peace with Israel, and the Palestinian Authority is trying to go around Israel to the U.N. to get what they couldn’t get at the negotiating table.”
Harper’s government has taken a lead role at the IAEA in Vienna and other international forums in opposing the Iranian drive for nuclear weaponry, and in backing sanctions against Iran. In 2012, Canada suspended diplomatic relations with Iran by closing its embassy in Tehran and expelling all Iranian diplomats from Ottawa. It also outlawed Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Quds Force under Canada’s Anti-Terrorism Act. Canada expanded its sanctions in 2013 by announcing a prohibition on all imports and exports from Iran, and by banning a series of Iranians and Iranian entities under the Special Economic Measures Act.
Canadian resoluteness in opposing Iran has drawn-in other Western countries. Many joined the walk-out boycotts that Canada annually led of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speeches at the U.N. Almost all Western nations have supported the tough U.N. General Assembly resolution on Iran’s horrendous human rights record that Canada sponsors every year.
Canada also led the world in expressing deep skepticism of the November interim agreement in Geneva between the P5+1 and Iran. At the time, John Baird said that: “Today’s deal cannot be abused or undermined by deception. The Iranian people deserve the freedom and prosperity that they have been denied for too long by the regime’s nuclear ambitions. Until then, Canadian sanctions will remain tough, and in full force. … We will evaluate today’s deal not just on the merits of its words, but more importantly on its verifiable implementation and unfettered access of all Iranian nuclear facilities.”
Since then, world leaders have been forced to acknowledge the validity of Canada’s doubt about Iran’s compliance intentions and the soundness of Canada’s concern about premature withdrawal of sanctions. Some have accepted Canada’s contention that the scope of the talks must be broadened to include Iran’s sponsorship of terrorism and its systemic violation of human rights.
Sometimes, nations lead by simply demonstrating friendship. Again, Canada is the example par excellence. Since 2006, 20 ministers in the Harper governments have visited Israel to advance bilateral ties, including the ministers of agriculture, citizenship and immigration, defence, environment, finance, foreign affairs, industry, international trade, natural resources, public safety, public works, transport, and treasury.
It is furthermore important to note that Harper’s government has significantly enhanced defense, intelligence and law enforcement ties between Canada and Israel. Cooperation accords have been signed in sensitive areas, and there have been frequent high-level exchanges, including reciprocal visits by the defence ministers, military chiefs of staff, intelligence chiefs, and national security advisors of the two countries. Observers should not underestimate the quiet professionalism and outsized reach of Canada’s security personnel across the Middle East and around the world.
Speaking to the Herzliya Conference in January 2012, Baird forthrightly said that: “Israel has no better friend in the world than Canada; no stronger ally who will stand up for you. We won’t stand behind you; we will stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel. Canada will not remain silent while the Jewish state is attacked for defending its territory or people.”
No country in the world is as generous in its trailblazing support of Israel, without apologies or hesitations. Canada speaks out and acts to defend Israel, consistently before anybody else, without feeling the need to be “politically correct” and to “balance” its statements with (im)moral ambiguities about the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Harper and his team should be warmly welcomed in Jerusalem this month as super-valuable allies and trusted friends.
@ mar55:
lol…..not surprised
Here is another one with the Prime Minister. A good time for Israelis and Americans to get to know him better. I must admit, it took a long time for Harper to grow on me. Hopefully he stays the course and does not disappoint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KMcEwsT-10&feature=player_detailpage
@ mar55:
My Pleasure. Glad you enjoyed them.
OMG who needs booze to get high when we have Rick Mercer to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gFgPX0hnNfA
This one is toooooooooo funny!!
@ yamit82:
Lutheran theologist, spare me!!!!!!!!
yamit82 Said:
Ohhhhhhhh Darlin, http://youtu.be/MYITD8TMvcM
yamit82 Said:
Alot you know about American culture, you forot “DUCK DYNASTY”.yamit82 Said:
When you’re the best who care about the rest!!!!!!!Sugar I will most American like Israel more then Canada.
dove Said:
By evil forces do ya mean our Bolshevik Lefties? They walk among us!!!
If ya mean Arabs? We got em surrounded.
GUNS:
We got an Army with guns, a police force with guns and a lot of citizens with guns if they can show a security need for them. I got several myself and have used them.
honeybee Said:
What do Americans think about besides themselves? Most Americans couldn’t find Canada on a map. 7 out of ten Americans when asked what language do they speak in Canada say Canadian.
“Once upon a time in America, every barely-attentive adult could recite at least some Spenglerian theory of decline. Today, at a very different historical moment, at an acquiescent national juncture when the whole riddle of human destiny has been reduced to vulgar and degrading entertainments – when the Kardashians and Honey Boo-Boo have casually supplanted the Western Canon – virtually no one can recognize The Decline of the West.” http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/columns/louis-bene-beres/american-democracy-as-masquerade/2014/01/09/
yamit82 Said:
That kind of talk turns me on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the phoenix Said:
That Darlin, is a NYC Yankee accent, like Yamit82 and dweller, I speak the true American English yawl with a drawl,Sugar.
the phoenix Said:
That’s Texan for Apies.
Bill Narvey Said:
I didn’t compare anything. You were the one comparing, not me. I never said hating Jews in Canada is on the level of Europe but to say as you did that ..”I would say there is more evidence of anti-Semitism in the U.S. than in Canada, but even there, it is not of great significance, given that the majority of Americans are pro-Israel which is reflected in a bi-partisan way in both houses of Congress.”
First of all, according to all polls in recent years antisemitism attitudes in America are pretty much what they are in Europe. Officially about 33%. Since political correctness is now embedded in Western culture and many people would never admit to having stereotyped biases when questioned I assume the % are much higher than what has been polled, especially in America. “You can know what others really think of you by what they are willing to believe about you”.
Yes Narvey I have always believed it’s us against them or to be exact them against us. You may not live long enough to see the folly of your myopic Hubris, others may not be so fortunate.
What no inane questions this time?
How did all your letter writing work out? 😉
@ honeybee:
Dear honeybee,
I feel like the judge in my cousin vinny, asking ‘what is a yout?’….
Sooooo, what are / is ‘avies’?
😉
the phoenix Said:
We surely don’t speak the same language.Eh
the phoenix Said:
Perhaps You’re obsessed only with American Avies!!!!!!!!!
@ Bill Narvey:
At the end of the day, bill, I submit to you that IT IS us vs. them. Don’t kid yourself. The vast majority comes in different shades of curious american. The likes of devolin are almost an anomaly.
@ honeybee
“Obsessed with Americans” ???
🙂
You’re Shirley kiddin’… Eh?
@ honeybee:
lol…..we KNOW! It’s very unfortunate that you didn’t learn more about your neighbour to the North. We are definitely NOT obsessed. Just want you to back off with your arrogance and attempt at controlling sovereign nations. In other words…the USA uses bully tactics.
i am surprised how obessed some Candians are with the USA, when most Americans hardly think of Canadians at all?
@ yamit82:
Hey Yamit…you LIVE in Israel surrounded by the forces of evil. Is the average citizen there as gun crazed as the Americans?
@ honeybee:
We are already armed. There are other ways to arm yourself besides guns. We are very vocal, informed, intelligent and admired by those in government who depend upon us.
@ yamit82:
Ya but Narvey’s not Jewish right? So how would he KNOW? He is somewhere between denial and ignorant!!
Bill Narvey Said:
Yamit82 should shake his backside instead.
@ yamit82:
The Canadian Jews need to arm themselves!!!!!!!!
Yamit, comparing the situation of anti-Semitism in Canada to that in the EU and concluding the problem is not nearly as significant here, is obviously lost on you. You have an us Jews vs. them antisemites all attitude.
Give your head a shake and maybe you will get it.
dove Said:
I was mostly replying to Narvey’s comment partially reprinted below. A majority of a national population does not have to be overtly antisemitic for a minority to do major violence against Jews. Most people will not support or participate in overt violence against Jews nor vocally support it, but they will not for the most part do anything to prevent it or support the Jews when it happens. Most people will remain passive and prefer to not be involved.
In America Blacks and Hispanics constitute by % the highest levels of virulent Jew Hatred and they are the most violent minorities in America. Add to them the Main Steam Christian churches, the Catholic Church plus all the right wing Kooks and Lestists and we have a volcano ready to erupt.
Bill Narvey Said:
Narvey is not alone in delusional denial. It’s a Jewish sickness and it comes with a price.
Antisemitic Incidents – 2012
Antisemitic Incidents 2013
CFCA – 2012 report – Present situation and tendencies
@ yamit82:
Yes Yamit. Those of us who live it KNOW. You obviously don’t read all the posts carefully.
@ ArnoldHarris:Hi Arnold. If I don’t answer a question its because I didn’t read the comment.
The biggest circulation paper in Canada is the Toronto Star who always plead the Palestinian case. The CBC is something like NPR in its message. The party who most supports the Palestinians is the Parti Quebequois whose members all come from Quebec. Canada also has a socialist party called the New Democratic Party. Given all that it is a wonder that Harper sticks to his principled support of Israel and that there is not more antisemitism in Canada. I agree with everyone’s remarks.
Canada / 03-01-2014
Suspicious fire overnight at back door of a synagogue
Swastikas in Jewish neighborhood
Source: http://shalomtoronto.ca/news/tag/1488-1504-1496-1497-1513-1502-1497-1493-1514/
Vaughan – An antisemitic incident was reported Thursday in a neighborhood with many Jewish residents in Vaughan, a city in the York region, north of Toronto, Canada. According to Shalom Toronto, the swastikas were painted on parked cars off of Beverly Glen road.
Swastika graffiti
Saint Boniface, Winnipeg – At least a half-dozen swastikas have been spray-painted around old St. Boniface in recent days, many on the Bertrand Arena. “Hatred and intolerance have reared …
The above are only partial reports in the last 3 days there are many more!
@ dove:
Dove, that was a link to a truly fine experience. Few presentations bring me such gladness as I get from seeing evidence of the superb fighting men and women of the armed forces of the State of Israel.
In September 1973, my wife Stefi and I had completed fundamental ulpan studies of the Hebrew language, and we were awaiting the start of a year of fellowship-based studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where we also had rented a nearby apartment. We were part of a group of people who got invitations to witness a parade in Jerusalem of the Israeli army and navy, with precision-formation flights overhead of a couple of squadrons of Israel’s jet fighter-bombers and interceptors, flown by some of the best combat pilots in the world. Only about a week later, those men and not a few women were in combat with the armies of Egypt and Syria in the Yom Kippur war. My wife and I performed volunteer duty for the Jerusalem municipality delivering telegrams, which involved driving our VW Beetle around with our lights darkened by the omnipresent blue wash-off paint used for that purpose. More than a few of our friends were in actual combat or under arms in the two combat zones along the Suez Canal or up in the Golan Heights. These were experiences that we have related to our four children, and which hopefully will be passed along to future generations of our family.
I reqret that circumstances did not permit us to remain in Israel after that study year. The retreats from the newly-won borders would have torn by heart out, but I have hopes that all this will be redeemed in time.
May haShem bless and keep the State of Israel, the armed forces of Israel, and all members of the Jewish nation and the families across the world and for evermore.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Invasion Of Kikes
Appears you Canadians are living in denial or in a Parallel Universe.
Award winning filmmaker and investigative journalist Martin Himel goes undercover to expose the ugly truth that Antisemitism is alive and very well on planet Earth. It’s part of our Extremism Exposed series of hard-hitting but ultimately hopeful documentaries shedding light on the racially or religiously motivated hatred and bigotry that threatens religious minorities and the safety of innocent people.
PART 4: New antisemitism Canada
Canada fights Antisemitism with much tougher laws than America yet we show how militant Islamic groups, Anti-Hassidic activists, and Anti-Jewish web bloggers still spread Antisemitism throughout the country and the world.
Jew Bashing – Anti-Semitism in Canada
@ mar55:
U’ mevorach!
🙂
@ dove:
Dear dove,
Thank you for the link.
Hauntingly beautiful…
@ ArnoldHarris:
Shabbat Shalom!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP40Bl24PE0&feature=player_embedded
@ the phoenix:
Shabbat Shalom!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP40Bl24PE0&feature=player_embedded
@ Bill Narvey:
Bill, yours also is a well-considered analysis.
As to anti-Semitism possibly growing in North America, as has happened in the EU countries of Western Europe, I am not so certain what “vigilance” along accomplishes, or public relations campaigns added on as political band-aids.
On a small scale, of course, there is sometimes need and opportunity for direct action.
It was 66 years ago this coming October that I was a freshman in a Chiago northside high school. That was a time during the Israeli War of Independence when the recently-proclaimed Jewish state was locked in deadly combat with the armed forces of all the surrounding Arab states. There was plenty of anti-semitism among the working class white kids who comprised much of that high school’s student population. One afternoon three of them cornered me in a woodworking shop class. Which was a mistake, because I was carrying a claw hammer which I used to go upside the face of the biggest and most threatening of them. He slugged me and knocked me out for a few seconds, but I had opened his face just enough so I could see his blood, and I heard later they had to close his face with stitches. If he’s still alive now he would be about 82 years old, and still carrying the scar that I put on his face. The immediate upshot, aside from a scolding by the high school principal, was that after that afternoon, when walking down the halls of that building, nobody would come within about four feet of me. I didn’t take me long to figure out that was the length of my arm with a carpenter’s hammer at the end of it. I felt no remorse whatsoever; just the deep satisfaction of successful combat.
But most Jews don’t come from social backgrounds that encourages or even forces them to get physical with people who hate them. For them, their only realistic response these past generations has been practical Zionism based on outright Jewish nationalism. And in that regard, I am not certain how many North American Jews would give up their probably spectacular living standards and attainments to take up life in a country in the Middle East under endless threat of attack from all their neighboring peoples. And I use the word “endless” because I see little or no sign of long-term peace of any kind in the Middle East, irrespective of Israel in particular.
So where and how do we proceed?
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Arnold, there are no real stats to base an answer to your question on. As for anti-Israel sentiment, as you might expect from anecdotal evidence it seems the Canadian Muslim community is mostly anti-Israel-pro-Palestinian, with some expressions of those sentiments clearly crossing the line to anti-Semitism.
The most apparent and frequent expressions of anti-Israelism/anti-Semitism are experienced on some Ontario and Quebec campuses.
My impression overall is that anti-Semitism in Canada is not relatively and comparatively speaking a serious problem overall. There are relatively few overt anti-Semitic incidents that would endanger Jewish lives and security. Most Canadians are likely fairly disinterested in the Israel vs. Palestinian conflict, but of those who are familiar with it, they appear on the whole to be more favorably disposed to Israel than Palestinians. Then there is the obvious pro-Jewish/pro-Israel attitude of the Harper government which in the main is shared by the Liberal and NDP parties, though they are less obvious about it.
I would say there is more evidence of anti-Semitism in the U.S. than in Canada, but even there, it is not of great significance, given that the majority of Americans are pro-Israel which is reflected in a bi-partisan way in both houses of Congress.
Compared to a real deep, broad and ever worsening resurgence of anti-Semitism throughout most of EU society, we in Canada and the U.S. hardly have an anti-Semitic problem at all.
Nonetheless we Canadians and Americans must still remain vigilant to ensure that if any signs appear that anti-Semitism is growing here in the slightest, we are prepared to immediately put it down.
@ the phoenix:
Phoenix, that was a well considered analysis of the Quebecois regarding us and ours. Now what about the Anglophones? How does their opinion about Jews and Israel stack up, and these have been measured, are such opinions more or less general across the English provinces and various social and political classes, or are there significant differences.
I originally asked all this from Ted Belman, considering that he must have spent his a significant part of his life as an attorney in one of the large English-speaking cities of Canada. But he does not always respond to questions put to him by his commenters on Israpundit.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
@ the phoenix:
I agree! I miss Dev too. He will surely be blessed!!
@ dove:
Excellent comment dove, like you, I believe that the lox and bagel Jews should STFU.
The quote that I have highlighted was in reference to Michael devolin, for whom I have a tremendous admiration (and I miss his posts…. 🙁 )
ArnoldHarris Said:
If I may, I think I can answer THIS part of your question.
The québécois, are 99.999% catholic. Up until the 60s, the church was the dominant force of these people. They were told what to do, what is right and what is wrong and even who to vote for…. ( prior to Election Day, the church goers were reminded that ‘ the sky is blue, but the hell is red… A very thinly veiled allusion as to how to vote).
So the older generation have the church antisemitic messages quilted into its fabric
The younger generation, and those that have pursued higher learning are influenced by 1. The ultra liberal mindset of the teachers (which almost by definition would be anti Israel) 2. There are more and more musloids in teaching positions because they are French speaking (north Africa, Lebanon etc). 3. Ultra liberal media
So put all this together and you do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out their views (you are either a killer of Christ, or you have stolen Palestinian land….take your pick)
That being said, I had a very interesting exchange with just such a creature a few weeks ago. I was basically toying with him and kept destroying his narrative. He TOTALLY understood what I was saying intellectually, but, it was like a visceral part of him could not admit to realize that he was fed lies from church and media.
It was like watching a real life Smiegel…….. 🙂
@ ArnoldHarris:
I could probably answer this better than Ted since I still live in Canada and have been very active on this issue
Of coarse you will find anti-semitism on both sides – but more ignorance of the Jewish people than actual anti-semitism.
Canadian Jews have a strong influence in politics. The majority of the public find Jews to be obnoxious and there is much jealousy. Most Canadians are disinterested in Israel but as the Islamic terrorism is hitting closer to their home they would favour the Jew over Islam. Most Canadians are led to believe that it is the Israeli Jews who are the problem. Very similar thought to the 1980 Quebec Referendum on Independence. The francophones living outside of Quebec are somewhat terrified of the francophones living inside of Quebec and the francophones in Quebec tell the rest of Canada to butt out. However, the separtists lost by a thin margin and it was blamed on the ‘ethnic vote’.
We do have Jews here in Canada who should SHUT THE F*** UP AS THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT – and have this air that just because they are Jewish they should be favoured. I am in battle with a few of them right now who are very critical of Harper. These are Jews who are have distanced themselves from Israel and in my opinion are speaking out of guilt – as they do want to feel any pressure regarding the homeland. ie returning there. There are non Jews who are more Jewish in their thought thinking than these ones who I would never have known they were Jewish if they hadn’t of told me.
Ted, how do Quebecois and Canadian Anglophones, from the standpoint of their separate cultures, regard Jews in general and Israel in particular?
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Names Critic of Palestinians New Envoy to Israel
Canada’s new Ambassador Vivian Bercovici will be a rare sight in Jerusalem – a foreign envoy on whom Israel can depend.
Canada’s new Ambassador to Israel is Toronto lawyer Vivian Bercovici, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced Wednesday. She is a former Finance Ministry policy adviser and a severe critic of the Palestinian Authority. She’s smart and capable and will be able to represent this government well,” said Baird , who pointed out that she will be the representative to Israel exclusively and not the Palestinian Authority. Asked about a general consensus that she is far from being a fan of the Palestinian Authority, Baird replied, “It won’t be a huge shock to anyone that Canada is a strong supporter of Israel.” The appointment comes less than two weeks before Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make his first trip to Israel as head of the government.
CBC News Attacking FM Baird on Appointing Jewish Envoy to Israel By: Yori Yanover
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/cbc-news-attacking-fm-baird-on-appointing-jewish-envoy-to-israel/2014/01/10/
The digging on the part of CBC Anchor Evan Solomon – obviously one of us – into the fact that Canada is sending a Jew to represent her in a Middle East that so hates Jews – that made me cringe. The digging on the part of CBC Anchor Evan Solomon – obviously one of us – into the fact that Canada is sending a Jew to represent her in a Middle East that so hates Jews – that made me cringe. This is hard to watch. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has appointed as ambassador to Israel a Toronto lawyer named Vivian Bercovici, who has praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and taken a hard line against Hamas and the Palestinian leadership. The Vancouver Sun reported that Baird defended his decision to recruit outside the foreign service, and pick Bercovici, who has written columns about the Middle East “that indicate her strong support of Israel.” “It won’t be a huge shock to anyone that Canada is a strong supporter of the state of Israel,” Baird said, noting that past Liberal and Conservative governments have appointed non-diplomatic envoys to Israel. Baird refused to be drawn into making a substantive comment about the most recent Israeli decision to build homes in the settlements. “Our views are well known to our Israeli interlocutors. We think unilateral action on either side is unhelpful,” Baird said, adding, in response to the host’s pressure: “It means just that I’m not going to join in an international pile-on.” Did you know Bercovici was Jewish? I was sure she was Italian – as the FM tells CBC Anchor Evan Solomon, who hosts the nightly series Power & Politics on CBC News Network and CBC Radio One, in the tape enclosed. But the digging on the part of Solomon – obviously one of us – into the fact that Canada is sending a Jew to represent her in a Middle East that so hates Jews, that made me cringe.
So, cringe away, here’s the video, followed by a statement by HonestReporting Canada, sent us by their Executive Director Mike Fegelman.
Read more at: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/cbc-news-attacking-fm-baird-on-appointing-jewish-envoy-to-israel/2014/01/10/
Canada also has a NEW Ambassador to Israel – VIVIAN BERCOVICI – a Toronto Lawyer. She has been an outspoken critic of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. Harper will arrive in Israel with an entourage of Canadian Jews.
Don’t underestimate the influence Canada has on the world.