Canada’s deal with the devil at UN
EX-U.S. envoy blasts anti-israel resolution vote
Nikki Haley, the former U. S. ambassador to the United Nations, accused Canada of striking a deal with the devil over its recent support of an anti-israel resolution.
Haley said Canada’s decision to change diplomatic course and support the resolution at the United Nations in a bid to secure a seat on the Security Council was an example of “cultural corruption.”
In a surprising move two weeks ago, Canada reversed course and supported a resolution put forward by North Korea, Zimbabwe and the “State of Palestine” that called for a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement" to the Israel-palestine conflict. The resolution explicitly referred to contested lands between the two countries as “Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
The move prompted a backlash of anger from Jewish groups and was also condemned as a “Faustian bargain” by Hillel Neuer of the organization UN watch.
In a speech to UN Watch’s Inaugural New York Gala Dinner on Thursday, Haley was scathing about Canada.
“It’s just easier not to rock the boat when the crowd is all going one way,” she said. “It’s hard to be the only one going the other direction. But standing alone on behalf of American interests and values is not something to be embarrassed by.
“Standing alone for freedom and human dignity is something to be proud of. In America, we don’t celebrate the mob. We celebrate the person who has the courage and conviction to stand up to the mob. Now we’re seeing an example of this cultural corruption playing out in real time.”
She said for a long time Canada had been balanced and fair- minded towards Israel at the UN and had opposed the pull of the anti-israel culture.
“But Canada is now seeking one of the rotating twoyear seats on the Security Council. It faces a vote in the General Assembly. Two weeks ago, Canada surprised Israel’s friends by voting for a North Korean resolution that challenges the legitimacy of Israel. This is a resolution that Canadian governments for years have voted against.
“One observer said Canada is making a ‘ Faustian bargain,’ trading its integrity for a seat on the Security Council.
“I speak from experience when I say the United Nations presents many such opportunities to strike a deal with the devil.”
Canada’s decision to support the resolution — which is put forward on a yearly basis — marked a departure from previous foreign policy. In the early 2000s, Paul Martin shifted to a more pro- Israel position compared to previous governments and this continued under the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.