PM Harpers recent trip to Israel

Harper’s trip to Israel
Feb. 22 2014 – 22 Adar 5774
Rabbi Stephen Wise

It was hard not to be amazed as a Canadian and a Jew, that our Prime Minister went to Israel last month to a hero’s welcome and spoke in front of the Knesset, the first prime minister ever to do so.  And this for a man in his very first visit ever to the Holy Land.  Its quite remarkable that Harper has been such a supporter of Israel since becoming PM in 2006 and even before, yet this was his first trip actually seeing the county.   Its almost mystifying how this PM is so supporting of Israel but yet how we can we not be impressed by his words and actions.  How many other leaders of state visit Israel and address the Knesset.  How many other world leaders stand beside Israel and say they will stand by her no matter what. 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke fiercely in defence of Israel, accusing critics of anti-Semitism, vowing to stand with the country, and even drawing heckles from the two Arab Minister who eventually walked out.

"Through fire and water, Canada will stand with you," Harper said in closing his speech to Israel's parliament, smartly echoing one of the prayers we say on Rosh Hashanah.  He must have some excellent Jewish speechwriters. 

In his speech, Harper spoke of the long ties between the two countries, and said Israel and Canada share the same democratic values.  As Jews we wonder when critics accuse Israel of human rights violations or apartheid.  We know it’s absolutely wrong and unfair to continually single our one country in the world.  Is there a China Apartheid, North Korea Apartheid, or Iran Apartheid.  Syria murders 200,000 of their own people but only Israel is continually singled out.  Finally it was our Canadian PM who spoke the hypocrisy aloud. He accused Israel's Western critics of moral relativism and said they single out Israel "to go along to get along." He argued "People who would never say they hate and blame the Jews for their own failings or the problems of the world instead declare their hatred of Israel and blame the only Jewish state for the problems of the Middle East," he said. "Some civil-society leaders today call for a boycott of Israel.... Most disgracefully of all, some openly call Israel an apartheid state. Think about that. Think about the twisted logic and outright malice behind that. 

Canada for many generations rarely took strong stands on world affairs, preferring to stay in the background or serve as a middleground, ready to see both sides and find solutions.  We supported world democracies and stood against communist or totalitarian or autocratic regimes.  But we never stood firm on supporting Israel despite her commitment to democracy from the first day of independence in 1948. 

Indeed when one looks at official Canadian government policy towards Israel and the Palestinians, there doesn't seem to be much that is outstanding. Beyond the language on UN resolutions that provide Canada with room to protect Israel, the basic pillars are all there: Two-state solution, anti-settlements, reference to UN resolution 194 for refugees, etc. Yet, after this visit, knows that the Canadian prime minister's heart and soul, and his rhetoric, are firmly on one side: With Israel.

So what are we to make of this trip, and overall our prime minister and ruling party Progressive Conservatives strong Support of Israel. 

When I looked at the huge delegation that went along, 208 people and most of it paid for by our government, I wonder, was this motivated by votes or morals?  The Jewish population of Canada is  around 300,000 out of 30,000,000 – so it doesn’t make sense that it would lead to more votes.  Yes there are three mainly jewish ridings and yes the PC won but that won’t give them a majority.  And there are three times as many muslims in Canada as Jews, with many more votes in the balance.

Even Netanyahu must be wondering where this support comes from.  Harper supports every single thing Israel does, its almost as if Netanyhau wrote the speech that Harper delivered.   

According to John Bell, Director of the Middle East and Mediterranean Programme at the Toledo International Centre for Peace in Madrid, this general bafflement may be because Harper's stance is personal and ideological, not calculated interest. He may embrace a deeply held view of Israel's place in Christian eschatology, a "moral" position where Israel's existence rights historical wrongs, while also heralding of a Christian messianic future. This translates politically into a view that Israel is a country under threat that needs to be defended - more like Israel of 1966 than 2013.

"Canada supports Israel, fundamentally, because it is right to do so," Harper said. Beel writes, a world of greys does not suit him as much as a landscape where one side is decidedly right, and the other decidedly wrong. The fact that the creation of Israel, no matter what one's views on that, has also done another people, the Palestinians, a wrong, has little space in this universe. Such contradictions hold little sway in the world of cartoons, of good guys and bad guys, that Mr Harper inhabits.

Now the Canadian government does support the Palestinians.  The PC will point to the announcement of $66 million as a sign of new support for Palestinians, in addition to $30 million last year.  But, its obvious that Palestinians come a distant second in Mr Harper's calculations. And I am happy as a Jew, that someone unequivocally supports the Jewish state.  Its nice. 

But I sometimes worry, that is also what Jews do.  Canada is known as the nice country, a “nation that is expert at keeping political emotions low, and avoiding ideological madness - two keys to finding constructive solutions”.  And so in that sense, we are an exceptional nation, a country rare in its avoidance of national zeal. Yet, our PM is working hard to make it as "unexceptional" as all others: nationalistic, and very certain of its right and wrongs. Are we going to send fighter jets to defend Israel from Iran.  Are we going to search for national glory by beating the drums of war?  I don’t think so and that is not what Israel, nor the Middle East wants or needs. 

For now Canada’s reputation has not been permanently damaged. Canada's image, as a country of tolerance, has withstood the PM's fervent attempt to paint it in sharper and more dramatic historical colours. In a survey of Canadian responses to the trip to Israel, 1/3 were supportive, 1/3 were against it and 1/3 didn’t care and had no opinion.  So nothing to be learned there. 

I worry though that Canada is losing its position as a country that can help Israel and the Palestinians achieve peace, by taking such a one sided support Israel at all costs. I believe Canada can be a great friend of Israel and also out of support point out policies that are not working to achieve a peaceful settlement.  That is what a true friend does.

I also worry that we might blindly support Harper despite some of the other policies of the current government that might not be in light with Jewish values.  The recent changes to refugees and immigrants making it harder to come here, hearken back to the day when Jews were refused entrance before the Holocaust.  How can we support building barriers to those who are trying to find safety in Canada, when we know how it affected us? 

I also don’t want Israel to become a wedge issue in Canadian politics.  That each party uses it to garner votes and put other parties down.  This week we had a visit from Howard English from CIJA who as a representative of the most important Jewish advocacy group in Canada, talked about how its not a wedge issue.  In fact all three political parties are supportive of Israel.  That is unique.  So we don’t need to necessarily need to vote for any one party to show that we support Israel.  There was a Rabbi who said after the visit that Harper “walks on water”.  He doesn’t walk on water.  No politican does. 

So overall I am very happy that our government and our pm support Israel.  There are not too many countries or leaders that do.  And it makes me proud of our country.  But support is not a blanket black and white Israel is perfect.  She isn’t, and I will be the first to admit and I love Israel and will fight for her at all costs.   And I don’t want Canada to lose her status as a catalyst of solutions. I want Canada to be an honest broker whom two sides can rely on to find a true and honest middle ground. A country that can lead globally through its highly education population, multicultural ethos and past excellence in multilateral diplomacy.