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Dec. 16, 2005
The positions on Israel
Jewish voters weigh up familiar election issues.
RON CSILLAG CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
Canadians are preparing to slog through their first winter election
in 25 years – one some pundits are predicting will change the
political landscape negligibly, if at all.
For Jewish voters, there has been no let-up in the national debate
over which party is best for Israel and which most faithfully reflects
Jewish values for a better Canada.
In the coming days, Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai Brith Canada
will issue their election guides, in which several key issues will
be identified for local and national candidates: fighting anti-Semitism;
security and anti-terrorism measures; social issues, including poverty
and housing; citizenship revocation and war criminals; and responses
to the crisis in Darfur.
Similarly, the Canada-Israel Committee will put out a guide to issues
that touch on bilateral relations between Canada and Israel in several
areas, as well as the peace process and Canada's voting record at
the United Nations.
Israel registered as a soft election issue even before the vote
was called. Last month, in an enthusiastically received speech at
the United Jewish Communities' General Assembly in Toronto, Prime
Minister Paul Martin got the ball rolling with an endorsement of
the Jewish state.
"Israel's values are Canada's values ... shared values of democracy,
the rule of law and the protection of human rights," he said.
The prime minister also pledged that Canada will help end the "annual
ritual of politicized anti-Israel resolutions" at the United
Nations.
A week later, he was rebuked at the annual Canadian Arab Federation
reception in Ottawa. Before all four national party leaders, acting
CAF president Faraj Nakleh stressed that Canada "does not share
common values with some countries – like Israel – who
break international law and whose human rights record is clearly
questionable."
"Canada is a friend to the Arab world," Martin responded.
"Canada is a friend to Israel. At times, we will speak frankly
to either side. Our ultimate goal is the goal I believe everyone
holds, and that is for peace in the Middle East."
Conservative party leader Stephen Harper sounded pretty much the
same tone, saying his party "believes that Canada must pursue
a balanced approach in its policy towards the Middle East."
Reportedly, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe and the NDP's Jack
Layton won hearty applause when they accused Israel of illegally
occupying lands in the Middle East.
Both the Liberals and Conservatives are seen as reasonably supportive
of Israel. Since becoming leaders of their respective parties, both
Martin and Harper have expressed strong, and sometimes strident,
support for the Jewish state.
But Martin has also received criticism from Jewish quarters. In
September, he promised $24.5 million in additional Canadian assistance
to the Palestinian Authority, bringing Ottawa's aid to Palestinians
to $310 million since 1993. That was on top of the $12.2 million
Martin pledged in aid to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who visited
Ottawa in May.
Even though Martin referred to Hamas as a terrorist group in his
meeting with Abbas, and warned there would be no democracy as long
as extremist groups are armed, Ottawa has never confirmed that Abbas
is doing what the aid is contingent on – namely, disarming
Palestinian terrorists and ending incitement in textbooks and the
glorification of suicide bombers.
It was also on Martin's watch that Ottawa pledged to continue funding
the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, even after
admissions that some of its employees were members of Hamas.
Jewish community officials concede that under Martin, Canada's voting
record on UN resolutions pertaining to Israel has improved, but
still has a long way to go. Prior to last year's election, Martin
said he believed every UN resolution should be judged on its merit.
He added that the Liberal government "has always defended the
legitimacy of Israel and I have stated publicly on many occasions
that I do not believe there is any moral equivalence between defending
one's country and terrorists who blow up innocent women and children."
Harper said his party has a long record of being "very supportive"
of Israel.
"Like all Canadians," he said, "we want to [see],
eventually, a democratic Palestine co-exist with a secure Israel.
But the security of Israel, the survival of Israel, is non-negotiable,
and we have been very critical of the [Canadian] government for
what we see as their lax attitude towards international terrorism
and the operation of terrorist organizations and their supporters
in this country."
The NDP's Mideast position has changed little over the years. It
envisions a two-state solution, the implementation of the post-1967
UN Resolution 242, the sharing of Jerusalem as a capital and a just
solution to the refugee issue.
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