Israellycool

Archive for the ‘Canada’ Category

Prime Minister Stephen Harper mounted a vigorous defence on Wednesday of his government’s Middle East policy.

 

Speaking to a B’nai Brith dinner, Harper made no apologies for his government siding with the Jewish state during this summer’s fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah guerrillas.

 

“When it comes to dealing with a war between Israel and a terrorist organization, this country and this government cannot and will never be neutral,” Harper said in a speech to the Jewish human rights group.

 

“This position is rooted in what we have long stood for as a country.”

 

The prime minister said he was not deterred by criticism from the opposition parties, who called the Conservative government’s unqualified support for Israel a repudiation of Canada’s traditional role in the region.

 

‚ÄúThat is simply not accurate,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúRather than charting a new (policy) course, we are restoring Canada to its traditional and true role: Principled leadership in world affairs … a Canada that knows where it stands.‚Äù

 

And Harper said it is ultimately in Canada’s best interests to support Israel.

 

‚ÄúThose who attacked Israel and those who sponsor such attacks … seek what they and those like them have always sought ‚Äî the destruction of Israel and the destruction of the Jewish people,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúThose who seek to destroy the Jews … will for the same reason ultimately seek to destroy us all and that my friends is why Canada‚Äôs new government has reacted with speed and spoken with clarity on recent events in the Middle East.‚Äù

On Monday the Ontario division of Canada’s largest union voted to support an international campaign to boycott Israel over its treatment of Palestinians, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on its website this weekend.

 

The decision to join the campaign, until Israel recognizes the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, was supported by an overwhelming majority of the delegates to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) at the Ontario convention in Ottawa this Saturday. The Ontario body represents more than 200,000 workers.

 

The global anti-Israel campaign, which started last July, has received support from many North American churches and some 20 Quebec organizations, the CBC reported.

 

According to the report, CUPE also condemned what they called Israel’s “apartheid wall,” saying it is illegal under international law.

 

“Boycott, divestment and sanction worked to end apartheid in South Africa,” Katherine Nastovski, chairwoman of the CUPE Ontario international solidarity committee, said.

 

“We believe the same strategy will work to enforce the rights of Palestinian people, including the right of refugees to return to their homes and properties,” she added.

Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman has apologized for calling some members of the Ontario Association of Optometrists ”terrorists” after a party fundraiser last week.

 

Association president Shirley Ha wrote a letter to members quoting Smitherman as saying optometrists are ”a bunch of terrorists, and I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

 

Ha said it appeared to be a reaction to the association’s Preserve Your Sight Grassroots Advocacy Campaign, which is appealing for funding for primary vision care.

 

”The minister regrets his remarks,” David Spencer, a spokesman for Smitherman, said Sunday. ”He’s already conveyed his apologies to the association for his poor choice of words. He recognizes his comments were not helpful in the overall approach to this issue.”