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December 19, 2008
Ready for whatever happens
CIC chair Moshe Ronen talks in Winnipeg on government policy.
RHONDA SPIVAK
Moshe Ronen, chair of the Canada Israel Committee, said that his organization is prepared in the event that there is a change of government in Canada. Ronen, who is also vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, spoke to a gathering of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg on Dec. 4.
"We have continually been in contact with everyone in the House of Commons and we've insulated ourselves should there be a new Canadian government in place. We've never played partisan politics. We've invested in all of the political parties," said Ronen. "We've tried to keep Israel from being a wedge issue."
Ronen said that the Bloc Quebecois' Gil Duceppe "is a strong friend of Israel, who identifies more with Israel than with the Palestinians." The two were in Israel recently and "he [Duceppe] agreed not to make Israel a wedge issue in Canadian politics." Ronen said that New Democratic party leader Jack Layton has also agreed to this.
The Iranian threat to Israel is the "number one" issue on CIC's agenda, said Ronen.
He said CIC wants Canada to prohibit Canadian companies from doing business with Iran and that Canadian banks doing business with Iranian companies are facilitating transactions that aid the Iranians by sidestepping American monitoring.
When asked what CIC has done about this, Ronen responded, "There is no [Canadian] legislation to prevent this, but we have raised this issue with the government and the government has encouraged [Canadian] banks to be vigilant with Iranian-related companies and Criminal Intelligence Service Canada [CISC] is trying to provide as much information as possible."
With regard to potential military action against Iran, Ronen said, "We want Canada to be ready to support military action by the United States and Israel against Iran or [to support Israel] if Israel goes it alone."
Ronen said that one of the considerations that Israel will take into account before potentially attacking Iran is what impact it will have, not only on Israel, but on Jewish communities around the world. According to Ronen, there are terrorist "sleeper cells" within Canada that could mobilize within a very short period and carry out an attack similar in scope to the recent attacks in Mumbai, if not worse.
One participant asked whether CIC supported the initiative by MP Irwin Cotler and the federal Liberal party to have Canada, as a state signatory to the Geneva Convention, take action to bring the Iranian regime to account at the United Nations for inciting genocide. "The CIC doesn't subscribe to Cotler's initiative," responded Ronen. He said CIC doesn't oppose it, but it also doesn't support it.
"Irwin is a smart guy," said Ronen. "Irwin's strategy as a jurist makes sense, although we as a community haven't advocated it. Although it may draw good attention [to the threats of Iran], that kind of approach can also be dangerous, as we've seen it applied by other countries against Israel." Ronen cited the case of Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, who couldn't enter England because of being wanted by the UN for war crimes. "It's a dicey area," said Ronen.
On developments in Israel, Ronen said, "We all know that if Israel evacuated the West Bank, it would fall instantly in the hands of Hamas. [Palestinian Authority President Mahmood] Abbas is pleading with Israel to stay, otherwise Hamas would take charge."
He said that CIC would like to see increased co-operation between CISC and the Mossad, and more vigilance in ensuring that Canadian charitable dollars do not flow into the hands of Hamas.
"No Israeli party believes there's any possibility of peace with the Palestinians," said Ronen, adding that, on the other hand, a peace deal with Syria is possible. The "big price" would be that Israel would have to return the Golan Heights but, he said, Israel has no religious attachment to the land and, if security arrangements could be accommodated, then there would be potential dividends for Israel. "Syria would be at peace, Syria could deliver Lebanon, there would be peace with Jordan and Egypt, and then the Palestinians will be talking to a wall for a long time."
Rhonda Spivak is a freelance writer who divides her time between Winnipeg and Israel.
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