Canada
The positions on israel
Jewish voters weigh up familiar election issues.
RON CSILLAG CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
Canadians are preparing to slog through their first winter election in 25 years - one some pundits are predicting will change tlie political landscape negligibly, if at all.
For Jewish voters, tliere has been no let-up in the national debate over wWch party is best for Israel and wliich most faithfully reflects Jewish values for a better Canada.
In the coming days, Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai Brith Canada will issue their election guides, in wliich several key issues will be identified for local and national candidates: figliting anti-Semitism; security and anti-terrorism measures; social issues, including poverty and housing; citizenship revocation and war criminals; and responses to the crisis in Darfur.
Similarly, tlie Canada-Israel Committee will put out a guide to issues that touch on bilateral relations between Canada and Israel in several areas, as well as the peace process and Canada's voting record at tlie United Nations.
Israel registered as a soft election issue even before the vote was called. Last month, in an entliusi-astically received speech at the United Jewish Communities' General Assembly in Toronto, Prime Minister Paul Martin got the ball rolling with an endorsement of tlie Jewish state.
"Israel's values are Canada's values... shared values of democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human riglits," he said.
The prime minister also pledged that Canada will help end tlie "annual ritual of politicized anti-Israel resolutions" at the United Nations.
A week later, he was rebuked at the annual Canadian Arab Federation reception in Ottawa. Before all four national party leaders, acting CAF president Faraj Nakleh stressed that Canada "does not share common values with some countries - like Israel - who break international law and whose human rights record is clearly questionable."
"Canada is a friend to the Arab world," Martin responded. "Canada is a friend to Israel. At times, we will speak frankly to either side. Our ultimate goal is the goal I believe everyone holds, and that is for peace in tlie Middle East."
Conservative party leader Stephen Harper sounded pretty mudi the same tone, saying liis party "believes that Canada must pursue a balanced approach in its policy towards the Middle East."
Reportedly, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe and the NDP's Jack Layton won hearty applause when they accused Israel of illegally occupying lands
in the Middle East.
Both the Liberals and Conservatives are seen as reasonably supportive of Israel. Since becoming leaders of their respective parties, both Martin and Harper have expressed strong, and sometimes strident, support for the Jewish state.
But Martin has also received criticism from Jewish quarters. In September, he promised $24.5 million in additional Canadian assistance to tlie Palestinian Authority, bringing Ottawa's aid to Palestinians to $310 million since 1993. That was on top of tlie $12.2 million Martin pledged in aid to PA President Mali-moud Abbas, who visited Ottawa in May.
Even tliough Martin referred to Hamas as a terrorist group in his meeting witli Abbas, and warned tliere would be no democracy as long as extremist groups are amied, Ottawa has never confirmed that Abbas is doing what the aid is contingent on - namely, disarming Palestinian terrorists and ending incitement in textbooks and the glorification of suicide hJombers.
It was also on Martin's watch that Ottawa pledged to continue funding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, even after admissions tliat some of its employees were members of Hamas.
Jewish community officials concede that under Martin, Canada's voting record on UN resolutions pertaining to Israel has improved, but still has a long vray to go. Prior to last year's election, Martin said he believed every UN resolution should be judged on its merit. He added tliat tlie Liberal government "has always defended the legitimacy of Israel and I have stated publicly on many occasions that I do not believe there is any moral eqiiiv-alence between defending one's country and terrorists who blow up innocent women and children."
Harper said his party has a long record of being "very supportive" of Israel.
"Like all Canadians," he said, "we want to [see], eventually, a democratic Palestine co-exist witli a secure Israel. But the security of Israel, tlie survival of Israel, is non-negotiable, and we liave been very critical, of the (Canadian] government for what we see as their lax attitude towards international terrorism and tJie operation of terrorist organizations and tlieir supporters in tliis country,"
The NDP's Mideast position has changed little over tlie years. It envisions a two-state solution, the implementation of the post-1967 UN Resolution 242, tlie sharing of Jenisalem as a capital and a just solution to the refugee issue. S
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