Canadian PM: I Will Defend Israel ‘whatever the cost’

This speech was made in Nov 2010


PM Harper vows ‘Israel will always have Canada’

12/02/2013

Canadian premier announces first ever visit to region next year, receives honor at annual JNF gala dinner in Toronto; KKL-JNF chair Efi Stenzler lauds PM’s “unprecedented show of support.”

TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed Sunday night that Israel will always be able to count on his country for support, as he announced plans to visit Israel at the beginning of next year. This will mark his first visit ever to the Jewish state.

Harper made the announcement at at the Toronto, Canada KKL-JNF annual gala dinner, where he raised the roof with a surprise rock performance. Addressing the audience at the event, the premier – this year’s guest of honor – was dressed in surprisingly casual attire, the reason for which soon became clear as he stunned the crowd by becoming the lead singer and keyboard player of a three-person rock band.Ahead of his musical performance, Harper stressed that Israel, Canada and the western world share threats. “We understand the future of our country depends on having a free and democratic state in the Middle East.”“Israel will always have Canada,” he emphasized.

Harper’s show included renditions of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and Jumping Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones. He wrapped up the set, quipping that he “has a day job” to get back to, before satisfying his audience’s demand for an encore with a Beatles’ number.

This was followed by a televised video message from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, who lauded his Canadian counterpart as a “true leader.”

“Stephen doesn’t follow the herd,” Netanyahu said. “He has stood up for the truth, time and time again.”

“Stephen doesn’t want to be politically correct, he wants to be correct. He had the courage to stand up for what he believed,” he said. “I salute you Stephen, not only as a personal friend, and a friend of Israel but as a great leader.”

Hundreds of pro-Palestinians and their supporters gathered to protest the prime minister’s appearance at the gala dinner. Israeli and Jewish demonstrators were also among the crowd.

The protesters stood outside the venue hosting the dinner while carrying signs condemning Israel’s “policy of apartheid” as well as the JNF’s land policies in the Negev.

Police on horseback were deployed in order to keep the peace, with some one thousand other protesters prevented access to the main street adjacent to the event.

JNF organizers slammed the protests as attempts to “de-legitimize” Israel. JNF-KKL chairman Efi Stenzler described Harper’s central role in the evening as an unprecedented display of support for the state of Israel and KKL-JNF which he said, puts into proportion the demonstrations of hate and lies that preceded the event. “KKL-JNF and its supporters all over the world will continue to strengthen the state of Israel with all its strength and will act fearlessly to reinforce it,” he told The Jerusalem Post.

Harper was honored at the annual dinner in light of the construction of a new visitor center in the Hula Valley, to be named after the premier. Some 4,000 guests attended the event at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, including public officials, Canadian government officials and major donors to Israel and KKL-JNF.

The new project includes the establishment of an international bird sanctuary visitor and education center, as part of the Hula Valley Rehabilitation Plan. The center will be a 4,000 square meter construction and will serve as a scientific and educational facility. During Harper’s upcoming trip to Israel he will visit the project.

David Koschitzky, Chair of the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs welcomed Harper’s announcement “as an important indicator of the dynamic relationship that exists between two great countries, which has grown and strengthened under the prime minister’s leadership.”

“This visit will provide Israelis with an opportunity to thank the prime minister for his steadfast friendship and support over many years,” he added.

 

December 2, 2013 | 12 Comments »

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  2. We attended the JDL Canada Hannukah party on Monday night. There were people there who attended the event mentioned above, who said those inside the building were as different as night and day from the people outside, Jews and non-Jews alike. Many of the guests inside were allowed to have their picture taken with PM Harper.

    Also, we listened to a lecture by Andrew Bostom who pointed out (with video proofs) that the leaders of Islam, both major sects, who are the equivalent to the Pope in Christianity, still preach that Jews are “descendents of apes and pigs.” This is all obfuscated by the Western media.

    Dove, the Leafs suck, eh?

  10. Hundreds of pro-Palestinians and their supporters gathered to protest the prime minister’s appearance at the gala dinner. Israeli and Jewish demonstrators were also among the crowd.

    The Jewicidals are at it again.

  11. Let’s also give a shout out to another friend of Israel – the new Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. The only country where “Liberals” are pro-Israel.