Liberal-Led Government of Canada Policy on Israel-Hamas Conflict: Clear as Mud

"Canadians will honour their memories. We stand with Jewish people. We will not relent until the last hostage returns home."

"We all in this House, I hope, are against any form of antisemitism or any form of discrimination."

"I hope, even more negotiations at a negotiating table where there are Israelis, Hamas and Qatar, which is present ... as a moderator."

"Our policy is clear: We will not have any form of arms or parts of arms be sent to Gaza. Period."

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly speaks in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

 

In her own words, discretion thrown to the winds, Melanie Joly admitted that her anti-Israel policy revealed through the aftermath reactions of the October 7 atrocities committed by Palestinian terrorists in southern Israel, Canada's minister of foreign affairs' actions and reactions have been motivated by her anxiety for re-election and her longer-range ambition to lead Canada as prime minister. With an eye to her constituents, and a critical mass of Muslim demographics in her riding of Montreal. Quebec is regarded as one of the two Canadian cities most populated by Muslim-Canadians. 

The inclusion, respect for, safety and security of the much smaller Jewish-Canadian population not quite as urgent as the need for Melanie Joly to secure her place in Canada's political history, in her regard and actions. "Thomas, have you seen the demographics of my riding?" was the reaction to former NDP leader Thomas Mulcair's questions interviewing the minister for a CTV column when he spoke related to her Israel-Hamas conflict position.

"I was astonished to hear such a candid admission that very local politics were playing such a role in shaping Canada's foreign policy on this highly complex and sensitive issue", Mr. Mulcair wrote afterward. His question was geared toward eliciting an explanation from Canada's minister of foreign affairs relative to her government's lack of attention and action in not responding to the pro-Hamas rallies that have been roiling Canadian cities and the threats they comprise to the safety and security of the Canadian Jewish community.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in the House of Commons that Joly "continues to pander to Hamas supporters", for which he was barred by the Speaker for the rest of the day, from speaking. A question period exchange was the impetus when Mr. Poilievre made note of the celebratory rallies in Canadian cities marking the first anniversary of the October 7 massacre in Israel.

"Will the government clearly and unequivocally condemn these genocidal chants from hateful mobs on our streets?", he pressed. In turn, Joly accused Poilievre of playing politics. This, from a foreign minister who has gone out of her way to spearhead conspicuously anti-Israel foreign policy during the year following those attacks in southern Israel. Although she is on record that Israel has a right to defend itself, she has taken pains to condemn the Israeli response against the Hamas pogrom; effectively supporting a terrorist group whose covenant is the destruction of the Jewish state.

Before a full month had elapsed after the slaughter of Israelis and hostage taking, Joly called for negotiations between Israel and the commanders of Hamas. Her soft reaction to Hamas places her in direct opposition to Canada's Minister of Defence Bill Blair, who fully supports the Israeli goal to destroy Hamas and its genocidal plans to murder Jews: "Quite frankly, Hamas has to be eliminated as a threat not just to Israel but to the world. They are a terrorist organization." Ceasefire calls, he understands, will accomplish nothing, since Hamas has no intention of laying down its arms.

Hamas, on the other hand, is mindful of Canada's generosity and empathy with its position on Israel, as evidenced by Canada's newly adopted hostility to Israel's need to defend itself from a Medieval death cult. Hamas expressed its appreciation when Canada supported a UN vote that called for a unilateral Israeli ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad cited Canada's vote: "We welcome these developments and consider them in the right direction toward isolating the fascist Israeli government globally."

Joly's full approval of a Canadian embargo on military exports to Israel followed, despite that Canada never has provided military aid to Israel. Israel has signed purchase contracts of military goods from Canadian suppliers such as parts for their F-35 fighter jets; one of 60 countries that signed similar contracts. Until March when Joly exercised her authority to negate and nullify such contracts with Israel for gear as innocuous as night-vision goggles.

A proportionally large Arab and Muslim population dignifies the Montreal riding of Ahuntsic-Cartierville which Joly represents. The riding of 114,410 people in the 2016 census had 7,130 residents for whom Arabic is their first language; the vast majority were native French speakers. Recently, mass Islamic prayers were conducted in public in Parc des Hirondelles, leading the borough mayor to announce she would consider enacting a blanket ban on public religious events.

While Monreal's Jewish community held several memorials honouring those who were killed and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, pro-Palestinian protests took to the streets over Israel's retaliatory military campaign. CBC