Stephen Harper in Israel

After hearing Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s speech in Israel and seeing the photo of him at the Western Wall, I told my husband that I thought it was amazing that we were witnessing a politician who would actually do something he thinks is right, even though he knows it’s going to cost him votes.

It’s such a rare occurrence that I don’t think it should be made fun of.

But then again, integrity isn’t valued much these days.

Patricia Bourque Dollard-des-Ormeaux

Many Israelis have expressed their sheer pride at this week’s visit to Israel by Stephen Harper. By the same token, I have never felt more ashamed to be Canadian.

Israel has a long track record of human rights violations. Israel continues to build illegal settlements, forcefully evict Palestinian homeowners and threaten the security and lives of Palestinians.

The International Court of Justice has made it clear that building the separation wall on occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law. The court also called upon Israel to terminate its breach of international law, dismantle the wall and to repair damage caused to Palestinian land.

As a Canadian of Palestinian descent, whose grandfather was displaced from his home so that an Israeli could occupy it, I despise Stephen Harper’s standing on the side of immorality, injustice and transgression. Ayman Oweida

LaSalle

Re: Aislin’s cartoon: “A bit much, don’t you think ?” (Gazette, Jan. 21)

Aislin’s cartoon with the Israeli flag painted on Harper’s face is right on and not anti-Israel in any way. It points out Harper has crossed the line.

I may be speaking for many Canadians when I say I am embarrassed if not disgusted by Harper on this visit. Harper is not a good friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; he is acting like a “Yes” man, pure and simple. A good friend will correct you when you are wrong. Israel has been blatantly wrong at times, but Harper stands beside it without saying a word, just like a Washington wife standing by her man who was been caught in some horrible sex scandal.

No, Harper is not a good friend of Israel, and he is not giving the world a good image of Canada. He is no statesman, and Canada has suffered on the world stage since he took power. We used to be seen as fair, as peacekeepers. We have fallen so much. Jeffrey Brooks

Montreal

While Aislin’s attempts at humour are usually appreciated, we object to his incendiary visual suggesting that Israel is somehow muzzling Canada’s foreign policy. In his speech to the Israeli Knesset, Prime Minister Stephen Harper clearly noted that our support for Israel does not imply that “allies and friends will agree on all issues all of the time.”

Canada’s long-standing foreign policy favouring a two-state solution remains unchanged. As well, Harper just committed a further $66 million in new aid to the Palestinians on Monday. This in addition to the almost $330 million given over the past several years.

It is ludicrous for Aislin to suggest that Canada’s support would lead the prime minister to be mute on any divergence of opinion.

We applaud Andrew Coyne’s methodical and factual explanation of our government’s support for the state of Israel (“Harper’s love for Israel is not blind”) in his Tuesday column. Aislin would be well advised to read it. Luciano G. Del Negro Vice President, Quebec Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

Montreal

Wow. Publishing that Aislin cartoon was a new low for The Gazette. Shame on you for making our prime minister look like he was being either muzzled or appear to have mud on his face for his support for Israel, the only truly democratic country in the region.

Every day, news reports tell us of torture in Syria, nuclear weapons in Iran, corruption in Egypt, terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and you have chosen to mock, criticize and denigrate the one world leader who has stood up as an ally to a country that is asking for one thing only: to live in peace.

Linda Wyse Dollard-des-Ormeaux