Canada/Israel Relations

"Canada remains a steadfast supporter of Israel and Canada will always defend Israel’s right to live in security."
"I understand that many of you were alarmed by this decision [when Canada voted 'yes' on a UN Human Rights condemnation of Israel in November]."
"The government felt that it was important to reiterate its commitment to a two-states-for-two-peoples solution at a time when its prospects appear increasingly under threat."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at menorah lighting on Parliament Hill

"This vote reflects poorly on Canada’s record as a defender of democracy and justice. It stains Canada’s reputation."
"Just last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured the Jewish community that Canada would 'always defend Israel’s right to live in security'. Voting for this resolution is not in line with that commitment."
Michael Mostyn, CEO, B’nai Brith Canada

"[The resolution condemned Israel’s security barrier but it] omits to mention that it was built in response to the Second Intifada which killed or wounded 8,341 Israelis by Palestinian suicide bombings, suicides, stoning, stabbings, lynchings, rocket and other methods of attack."
"[Canada has chosen the position of] standing with the jackals [by voting yes]."
Hillel Neuer, director, UN Watch

"[Canada voting for the resolution was an example of] cultural corruption playing out in real time  [and was] trading its integrity [for a seat on the Security Council]."
"This is a resolution that Canadian governments for years have voted against'.” 
"I speak from experience when I say the United Nations presents many opportunities to strike a deal with the devil."
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire light the menorah on Dec. 5, 2018 in Ottawa. Last week, Trudeau said, "Canada will always defend Israel's right to live in security."Justin Tang/The Canadian Press/File

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper unblinkingly assured Israel that there was no question that Canada would always stand in support of the right to existence of the State of Israel. He fully supported and understood the necessity of Jews to have a homeland of their own, to return to their original geographical Judaic heritage and re-establish their presence where they were once exiled to establish  a world-wide diaspora but never forgetting their origins dating back thousands of years in the Middle East in the land of Judea before the tribes were dispersed.

In November, Canada voted for a controversial resolution within the United Nations that was co-sponsored by North Korea, Zimbabwe and the 'State of Palestine' among others, that condemned Israel as the "occupying power in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem". A speciously absurd statement without any foundation in history both ancient and current. 'Palestine' was originally concocted as a place-name identifying with Jewish residence, coopted in modern times by Arabs declaring themselves the 'original' Palestinians, not the Jews.

Moreover, the timeless Judean capital of Jerusalem now being claimed by Palestinian Arabs as their very own, bears no factual resemblance to reality nor heritage and history. The Islamic conquest of the Middle East and beyond robbed Jews of Jerusalem, and of their homeland. The Palestinian 'cause' is simply a reiteration of ancient wrongs and wrongdoings, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation within the United Nations has succeeded in isolating, slandering and victimizing Israel, in consequence of a Jewish presence in a wholly Islamic geography.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, centre, meets with heads of Israeli settlement authorities at the Alon Shvut settlement in the West Bank on Nov. 19. Canada has affirmed it does not share the U.S. view that Israel's settlements in the West Bank are legal under international law. (The Associated Press)

''Although it was a slow process … I am delighted. [The vote was] 'very significant, very positive.''

''I was involved personally in extensive discussions with my colleagues in the foreign ministry in Ottawa'[leading up to the vote]"

 ''But still we have a lot more to do.''

Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour

Endorsed, predictably, as all such resolutions always are, by 167 nations with eleven countries abstaining, and five voting against, from Israel, to t he United States, Australia, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, in a vote at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday -- Canada, despite its prime minister having reassured Canadian-Jewish leaders that its support of Israel was assured, and the previous November vote was merely an anomaly, reaffirmed a major change in position in the controversial and long-running dispute between Israel and the Palestinians with yesterday's vote.

The change in Canada's voting position where it usually votes against the 16 recurring Palestinian resolutions brought before the General Assembly on an annual basis, is now obvious. The issues revolve around East Jerusalem, sovereignty over natural resources, Israeli settlements and in general, the "occupation" whereby Israel protects itself and its population from violent ongoing attacks from Palestinians incited to violence, and from Palestinian terrorist groups intent on annihilating the Jewish state.

 
Yesterday, the UN General Assembly adopted six non-binding resolutions all of which as per formulaic determination, single out and criticize Israel, lacking any indication whatever of knife attacks by Palestinians, of the deliberate and vicious incitement by the Palestinian Authority, of the institutionalized hate machine that teachers Palestinian children through school curricula, through songs and plays, and televised programs aimed at them that Jews are their aggressors and they must aspire to become martyrs to the cause of freeing Palestine, minus Israel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Canada's longstanding role of supporting Israel at the United Nations, and its past commitment alongside a limited number of countries dedicating themselves to preventing "Israel bashing" appears to be history. Canada joined 163 other countries on Wednesday in support of the motion leaving only the United States, Israel itself, and three others opposing it.

This is a surprising, abrupt and totally confusing departure from Canada's voting record for the years 2014 - 2015. Not only under the previous Conservative-led government, but under both Conservative and Liberal governments of the past, when Canada under all administrations demonstrated its support for Israel ranged against the UN's abysmal record of singling out Israel for condemnation on countless numbers of accusations led by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and unfailingly supported by the union of Non-Aligned nations and, sadly, the
European Union.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's focus is on his Security Council revolving two-year seat campaign. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's 'mandate' from the prime minister was quite specific in directing him to "lead Canada's United Nations Security Council campaign" as a top priority, challenging Norway and Ireland, both themselves campaigning vigorously for that seat, both having lobbied to that end for over a decade. Ireland is seen as the EU favourite, while Norway is acknowledged for its annual generous foreign aid contributions.

So Canada has decided that its chances would be enhanced by abandoning its long-held commitment to the defence of Israeli presence and security in the Middle East to curry favour with the huge voting bloc represented by countries of the Islamic Cooperation group. But this should not come as a huge surprise, the signs and signals were all there, and all the favour-currying on the part of Canadian-Jewish groups hoping to ensure Canada's continued support of Israel, has come to nought.

The United Nations monitoring organization UN Watch, had undertaken a petition launched after November's vote, for the purpose of amassing a collection of signatures hoping to impress upon the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau that it would represent an honourable decision to disown its last choice in voting against Israel. There were close to 40,000 signatures when the final vote was cast, when Canada's decision to stay the course for leaving Israel to its fate as an outcast, was described as a "Faustian bargain".

Nikki Haley Condemns Canada's UN 'Deal With the Devil'