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November 12, 2004
Martin supports Israel
PM speaks at inaugural Israel advocacy conference.
BENITA BAKER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Ottawa
If anyone was concerned about Paul Martin's position on Israel,
they needn't have worried. Speaking at a dinner in Ottawa recently,
the prime minister gave an absolute endorsement of Israel's right
to exist and to defend itself.
"I want to let you know that in Canada we will not, nor will
we ever, waiver in our support of Israel," said the prime minister
to a standing ovation. "We believe strongly and incontrovertibly
in Israel's right to protect itself from people bent on destroying
it."
Martin was speaking at the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish
Advocacy (CIJA) parliamentary dinner in Ottawa on Nov. 1. Besides
declaring Canada's lasting support for Israel, he said he believes
that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to disengage from
the Gaza Strip will enhance security and lead to peace.
"There has been sharp debate and profound passion in Israel
about Prime Minister Sharon's plan to disengage from the Gaza Strip,"
said Martin. "It is, by any measure, a step, in my view, to
enhance Israel's security and lead in the direction of peace."
Martin described Sharon as "having great courage" in his
determination to bring peace to Israel and went on to say, "We
as a nation encourage others to join with the prime minister to
undertake this difficult journey so that Israelis and Palestinians
can one day live side-by-side and not head-to-head."
Expressing his concern about recent acts of hatred and vandalism
in Canada, Martin said that "We must respond to manifestations
of anti-Semitism, in whatever form it takes, with collective and
utter condemnation."
In closing, the prime minister warned that our pride in being a
welcoming and multi-cultural nation, "will ultimately erode
and be lost if we do not vigilantly combat racism and exclusion,
if we do not together stare into the face of hatred of all kinds
and declare, this is not our Canada. It will never be our Canada."
The CIJA conference, called Democracy in Action, was the inaugural
gathering of the recently formed umbrella advocacy organization.
The conference focused on issues facing Canadian society, the Jewish
community and Canada-Israel relations. Participants came from across
Canada to learn more about CIJA and to participate in meetings with
parliamentarians and representatives of Canada's major political
parties. One day of the conference was devoted entirely to teaching
university students about advocacy and becoming politically engaged.
Seminars included How to Communicate Speaking Truth to Power and
Other Myths and How Can Students Make a Difference.
In addition to the prime minister, guests of honor at the dinner
included leader of the opposition Stephen Harper, NDP leader Jack
Layton, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe and the ambassador
of Israel to Canada, Alan Baker.
A dinner highlight was the Premier's Tribute, honoring four former
premiers for "their steadfast support for Israel and enduring
friendship to the Jewish community." Lucien Bouchard was recognized
for "publically expressing his admiration for the determination,
values and accomplishments of the state of Israel" and "for
fostering a strong friendship between Quebecers and Israelis."
Former Ontario premier Mike Harris accepted his award to a standing
ovation when it was noted that his government provided a tax credit
for parents of children in Jewish and other faith-based private
schools and that his government was the first in Canada to establish
a Holocaust Memorial Day.
Former Ontario premier Bob Rae was singled out for his "ongoing
efforts to sustain and strengthen Canada's relationship with Israel
and his fight to end anti-Semitism," and former Newfoundland
premier Brian Tobin was recognized for ushering an opinion leader's
mission to Israel in 2003.
In his remarks prior to offering the evening's toast, Harper pointed
out that in Canada, we take our freedom and democracy for granted
but "in Israel, these freedoms are defended heroically and
won every single day." Commenting that Linda Frum advised him
not to test out his Hebrew at the dinner, Harper asked the audience
to join him in "toasting our special friendship and our shared
values."
Included among the capacity crowd of 1,000 were members of Parliament,
senators and representatives of Canada's numerous Jewish community
organizations. The completely bilingual evening was hosted by Sonia
Benezra, an award-winning talk-show host, actress and MuchMusic
vee-jay.
The evening was punctuated with video presentations celebrating
the formation of CIJA and the 10-year anniversary of the Canada
Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation, a joint venture
that promotes research and development between Canadian and Israeli
firms, especially in the high-tech sector.
Rex Murphy, social commentator and editorial journalist, closed
the dinner with a keynote address.
Benita Baker is an Ottawa freelance writer who has written
for the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin and
Lifestyles Magazine.
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