By Ted Belman
Recently, Canada’s Minister of Defence, MacKay met with top Israeli officials and exchanged concerns,
Apparently, Canada has applied more sanctions than the minimum required. Also because Canadian forces are fighting in Afghanistan, Canada is very concerned about Iran’s activities.
Mackay told the Jewish Tribune “Canada is a strong supporter of negotiations for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, with mutually assured borders. Peace is best pursued if negotiations continue.”
I am meeting with Canada’s Ambassidor to Israel on Monday and intend to argue against such a position.
No mainstream Party is fighting the two state solution anywhere. No one wants to break the international concensus. Same for Israel. Meanwhile what matters is what is happening on the ground.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has consistently stood up for Israel, not the PA; so have three of his cabinet ministers that I know of. Some other good news is that one of the major newspapers here has been printing more balanced stories. However, there’s talk of a possible federal election, and that could mean a change of government.
I believe that at least one of the major and well-regarded Jewish organizations here in Canada has been backing a two-state solution. I work alongside some of my Jewish colleagues in fighting anti-Semitism (couched as Israel Apartheid) within our schools and union, and was asked to sign a petition for the two-state solution that was put forth by one of these organizations’ leaders. I signed it, because I trusted the leader,that he knew what was best to do, at least for the time being. I don’t know much about Peter MacKay’s stance on Israel, but it’s quite possible that he’s acting on advice from such an organization, rather than out of a motive to please the PA. Perhaps MacKay believes that a two-state solution, that it might be better for Israel than what Israel’s enemies are hoping for, at least for the time being. I hope he has no real desire to tell Israel what to do, or to appear to others to do so. I’m sure he has no delusions about being able to ride in on a white horse and create peace there.
Michael. You are right on all counts. Nevertheless, I want to make an argument for why its a pipedream.
Belman: Canada is really the most solid supporter of Israel and Israel’s interests in the world today. If the Harper government supports a two state solution, it is very much within its right to do so. That would not in any way undermine the closeness of its relationship with Israel. If BB and the majority of the world Jewish population stands behind this solution, why sholdn’t Canada? I doubt very much that your visit with the Canadian ambassador, could have any influence whatsoever.
I agree. Timothy Leary started the ball rolling in the 1960s. I suspect that most North Americans are on some sort of prescribed medicine that makes them think the “Peace Process” will lead to something tangible. Either that, or they’ve been following some New Age guru — or some New York Jewish columnist. The affects are about the same in all cases. Before you know it, Canada and the US will be recognizing the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, and sending ambassadors to Chelm.
Curiouser and curiouser…
Mir, trust me I am constantly not only defending Israel but educating them and calling anyone out on anti-Semitic remarks.
I spare no one, my friend and clients alike.
A young priest and friend from our parish left the other day with a group to visit Israel. I told him to look up my friend Caroline Glick and tell her I said hello.
I told him to go to her website and get to know her, she is a great American and a great Israeli.
You may not always agree with her, but you know her heart and soul is with G-d and Israel.
rongrand. Then DO something about it. ACTION speaks louder than words. Complaining about it here on Israpundit isnt going to DO anything except allow you to vent.
Uncle, you got that right.
However, I am still bothered by the lack of support from the liberal American Jews.
They sit idly by while the liberal left anti-Semite media trashes Israel, identifying the Palestinians as the victims of this sinful Israel.
Their silence is an endorsement of this lousy propaganda.
You rear my cry often enough about a super PR program by Israel to bring the truth to Americans and the rest of the world.
I believe a majority of Americans do support Israel in spite of not knowing the truth.
I believe Z-Street is trying it’s best and they alone can’t do it.
It can begin with a National Jewish Heritage Day throughout the US, sharing it will all Americans.
Jews have every reason to be proud and by damn it’s time to show it and share it.
Get the liberals off the obama kool-aid.
He is nothing more than a Community organizing pamphlet distributing anti-Semite pretending to be a Christian, embracing Islam, an incompetent president elected through the efforts of the liberal left media and George Soros and company.
No surprise here. I had a chat with MacKays office and got hung up on. All I said was that Canada shouldnt interfere with sovereign nations or it could happen to them. I didnt yell scream or swear. I told them it wasnt going to happen and that they are expecting Israelis to give into people who are worse than Hitler.
Susan says:
The world runs a giant affirmative action program for Palestinian Arabs at the Jews’ expense.
America is part of that world, why the surprise and disappointment?
Indeed Western governments should not be asking, suggesting or telling Israelis what to do…they should (and none have) supported Israel and spoken against those who harm her, verbally and physically. (but none really have. not of consequence.) Pushing for Palestinian statehood following the bloodiest intifada ever, lavishing billions into that entity which harbored and incubated terror by a leader who denied the Shoah is why the world spits upon Israel. I mean, they all tout the security of Israel is number one while at the same time lecturing Israel on every world stage possible,
(guess what best friend of Israel said that friends?) Then one step further lecturing
(guess what best friend of Israel said that friends?)
For this the PA has a nice big flag flying over the U.S office of the Pa while not even one President of the U.S. (not even the one who was known to be the best friend of Israel, the one I trusted and took at his word and his promise) could not even mouth the words, “Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel.”
Face it the back of Israel gets pushed further into the corner of the abyss not completely by the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab/Islamic world because their voice would mean nothing without the co-dependents who give their voice sail, face it. The real guilty parties are western governments led by those in high places who if not for their unending lying, whitewashing and support of the Palestinian people/cause there would be no Palestinian cause. Indeed those in high places one way or another explicitly sacrificed Israel turning her into the pariah of the world while those who perpetrated terror against her were turned into the victims. And to think there are those who think this happened by magic. Not one leader in the west dared to face off against those who wished Israel harm not with any consequence any way. In turn by standing against Israel by denying Jerusalem to the Jewish people by not signing the embassy act and not sending representatives to the Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem was nothing more then pandering through appeasement. It screamed, Jerusalem is not the undivided capital of Israel! Again, to have done this to Israel especially post 9-11, war on terror by a president thought to be the best friend of Israel paints a picture we all need to come to grips with. We walked amongst our enemies. We did.
Canada is going to have to learn that a two state solution is NOT duable.
Sam, that the problem in the nutshell. The western governments should not be asking, suggesting or telling the Israelis what to do.
Israel needs to continue to build communities in all of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and not give an inch while taking complete control of all the land that is rightfully theirs.
The Palestinian issues are no more than a anti-Semitic tool employed by the Arab world to divide and overtake the Holy Land which doesn’t belong to them.
Land for peace does not and will not work and is not the intention of those who seek it.
Peace with mutually assured borders:
1. There are now Jewish 300,000 settlers beyond the green line. Over 200,000 live just over the green line, within the security fence (with a very large number of them in and around “Arab east Jerusalem”). Up to 100,000 are widely scattered throughout the west bank and Jordan Valley (the future palestinian state”).
2. Gaza is now a de facto palestinian state ruled by force by hamas. Their fellow muslims in Egypt blockade it on its southern border.
3. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank has stopped having elections, and its government is no longer legally valid.
So exactly what are the western governments asking Jewish Israel to do in order to provide palestine with mutually assured borders? Ethnically cleanse 100,000 Jews from the west bank, and 50,000 Jews from around eastern Jerusalem; negotiate in good faith with a Palestinian Authority which is no longer legally valid, pretend that Hamas does not control Gaza, and allow free passage from Gaza to the West Bank by splitting Jewish Israel in half?
It’s like Alice in Wonderland.