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.
Posted by Ted Belman
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