Israeli PM praises Harper’s ‘courage’
JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Stephen Harper received a hero’s welcome to Israel Sunday, as his political counterpart lavished praise on him for being courageous and far-sighted.
“You are a great friend of Israel and the Jewish people,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed at a formal welcoming ceremony for Harper, complete with marching band.
“This world is often cynical and hypocritical and you have shown great moral leadership. When it comes to fighting terrorism, you know that there cannot be any politically correct doubletalk. But only unequivocal condemnation and united international action.”
“You’ve shown courage, clarity and conviction. And in standing up for the truth, your voice, Stephen, has been indispensable.”
Harper, in reply, said he would save his substantive remarks for an address he was scheduled to deliver Monday to the Israeli legislature, known as the Knesset.
That speech, the first-ever by a sitting Canadian prime minister in Israel, will come just hours after Harper travels Monday to Ramallah, in the West Bank, to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The weeklong trip, which includes stops in Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, is Harper’s first trip to the region. Harper decided to make a big show of the trip by authorizing a large pro-Israeli delegation that will cost the Canadian taxpayers.
The official delegation consists of several cabinet ministers and some Conservative backbench MPs, and Conservative Sen. Irving Gerstein — the Conservative party’s top fundraiser who was embroiled last year in the scandal over Sen. Mike Duffy’s expenses.
As well, there are about 200 people from outside government in the official delegation — including some senior business people, 21 rabbis, members of various Canadian Jewish groups and Christian evangelical organizations.
About 30 delegation members who flew with Harper are having their flights and hotel costs paid for by taxpayers, while those who flew on their own are getting accommodation covered by government.
The list of delegation members did not include any opposition politicians from Canada, nor did it appear to include members of any major Muslim or Canadian-Arab groups.
Since taking office, the prime minister has adopted a fiercely loyal policy in support of Israel that he says is based on principle.
But critics say Harper’s policy on Israel is overly simplistic and has damaged Canada’s reputation in the region as an “honest broker” that might be able to bridge long-standing differences between Israelis and Palestinians.
In his public welcome to Harper, Netanyahu was effusive in his praise.
“When it comes to antiSemitism, you’ve stood up unabashedly at the side of Israel, the entire Jewish people.”
“And when it comes to Iran — repeated calls for Israel’s annihilation and its unrelenting development of nuclear weapons — you and Canada have stood unflinchingly on the right side of history.”
Under Harper, Canada has treated Iran’s leadership with disdain, insisting that it cannot be trusted by the world.
Canada closed its embassy in Iran in August of 2012.