Canada Report From Friends Of SWC For Holocaust Studies - Toronto Office

ISRAEL IN CRISIS:
REPORT FROM FRIENDS OF SWC FOR HOLOCAUST STUDIES - TORONTO OFFICE

The crisis in Israel has seriously tested the mettle of the new (minority) government of PrimeMinister Stephen Harper.

The Prime Minister, shortly after being elected 6 months ago, made it clear that Canada was going to take aprincipled stance consistent with Canadian values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law with respect to the Middle East specifically and world events generally.

Thus, Canada was the first country to cut off funds to the Palestinian Authority until its Hamas-led governmentstopped terrorism and recognized Israel's right to exist in peace. As well, at his instruction, Canadian officials did not hesitate to place the Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers on the list of terroristorganizations.

Prime Minister Harper’s acute awareness of terrorism's international scope and potential impact on Canadians wasrecently underscored when seventeen Toronto-area men were arrested for alleged terrorist activities. Similarly, Canada's soldiers in Afghanistan have suffered casualties that remind all Canadiansof the fragility of our way of life and the power of those who strive to overturn it.

The Prime Minister’s strong understanding of the need for sovereign States to defend themselves when underattack has led him to issue statements supporting Israel. He correctly pointed out that there is no occupation by Israel of Lebanon or Gaza and that the demarcation lines between them areinternationally-recognized borders and that therefore when any Government, such as the Hamas-led PA or Hezbollah-included Lebanese Cabinet, not only does nothing to stop attacks upon Israel fromtheir territories, but, in fact encourages and condones such attacks, then Israel has no choice but to defend herself.

Remarkably, at least initially, most of Canada's print media published editorials generally supportive ofIsrael. Radio and television outlets were less effusive, but still more or less balanced.

More recently, though, especially after the unfortunate death of eight Lebanese-Canadian members of a Montrealfamily, there has been increased criticism of Israel, in particular in the French-language media, and demands for a ceasefire. Apparently there may be as many as 50,000 Lebanese-Canadians stuckin Lebanon and this sheer number has meant that radio and television are concentrating much more on their plight and their efforts to get out. The stories of bombings of targets in Lebanon, lackof food and water, etc. are now dominating the airwaves.

The "usual suspects" of pro-Palestinian groups have also increased their efforts to discredit Israel and toalter Canadian policy. The Jewish community is reacting in Montreal (over 500 people attended an Israel Unity Town Hall meeting on July 17), and in Ottawa and Toronto, almost 1000 peoplecame together in support of Israel on Friday, July 14 with vigils and rallies.

But, outside these cities, the ability to bolster Canadian public opinion is lacking and elements within theForeign Affairs ministry are actively trying to persuade the Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister to "soften" their pro-Israeli stance; so far, fortunately, with little success.

We must redouble our efforts to communicate with our neighbors to underscore that this is not a war just for thereturn of 3 soldiers and it is definitely not a war to occupy land, but rather that this is an attempt to put a stop to Iranian and Syrian-backed terrorists in Lebanon and Gaza committed todestroy Israel by continually launching rockets and initiate other terrorist acts across international boundaries upon Israeli civilians and communities.

Canadian Friends, like the rest of the world-wide Simon Wiesenthal Center, are committed to doing our part inthis just struggle.

Leo Adler
Director of National Affairs
Toronto, Canada

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