“And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Photo: Facebook)
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, long a supporter of Israel, spoke at a Jewish National Fund fundraiser dinner in Toronto this week, pledging Canada’s support for Israel and announcing a planned visit for January. The PM also entertained the crowd by performing with his band.
The dinner was held in Harper’s honor, and a new bird sanctuary in his name, to be established in the Hula Valley Reserve, the Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor & Education Centre in Israel, was announced. “I am honored by this particular gift…I value it [because] it is where it is. It is in that homeland of the Jewish people and that light of freedom and democracy in what is otherwise a region of darkness — the State of Israel,” Harper said. This marks the first time in its 65 years that the JNF has honored a sitting prime minister.
JNF Canada CEO Josh Cooper explained to the
National Post, “The prime minister’s outstanding support of the state of Israel, his efforts towards combating anti-Semitism and preserving the memory of the Holocaust made him an obvious choice.” On the bird sanctuary, Cooper commented, “Given his well documented love of animals, we felt this would be an appropriate project to present to him.”
Harper elaborated on Canada and Israel’s common values, as well as the common threats they face. “In the world of diplomacy, we know how easy it is to drift away from Israel. We understand that the future of our country and of our shared civilization depends on the survival and the thriving of that free and democratic homeland of the Jewish people in the Middle East.”
“Israel will always have Canada as a friend in the world,” Harper added.
It is important to remember that Harper is a member of a large evangelical church and has noted many times that his support for Israel also stems from his faith.
Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu shared his appreciation for Harper via televised video message. “Stephen doesn’t follow the herd,” Netanyahu said. “He has stood up for the truth, time and time again. Stephen doesn’t want to be politically correct, he wants to be correct. He had the courage to stand up for what he believed. I salute you Stephen, not only as a personal friend, and a friend of Israel, but as a great leader.”
Harper’s announcement of a planned visit for January was also welcome news. Critics have noted that although he has been a staunch supporter of Israel in his words, he has yet to visit the country in his seven years as Prime Minister.
David Koschitzky, chairman of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), praised Harper’s decision following the latter’s speech. “This official trip is an important indicator of the dynamic relationship that exists between two great countries, which has grown and strengthened under the prime minister’s leadership. This visit will provide Israelis with an opportunity to thank the prime minister for his steadfast friendship and support over many years.” In Cooper’s words, Harper has “raised the bar of what is considered to be a true friend of Israel.”
Not everyone was enthusiastic about Harper’s professions of support for Israel, or the JNF’s activities in the Negev. Some 200 demonstrators gathered outside the dinner venue, protesting the Prawer Plan, an Israeli government initiative which calls for the relocation of tens of thousands of Bedouin residents in the Negev region. This demonstration came on the heels of the International Day of Rage held Saturday across Israel and in Europe against the same plan.
Approximately 200,000 Bedouins live in the Negev, most concentrated in an area around the city of Beersheba. Many live in illegal settlements without basic services such as roads and sewage systems, and are spread out over vast tracts of land. There is concern that with a growing population, the land will not be able to accommodate such an expansive lifestyle. The Bill on the Arrangement of Bedouin Settlement in the Negev, also known as the Prawer-Begin Plan, or simply the Prawer Plan, calls for Israel to officially recognize most of the current Bedouin settlements, while relocating the residents of the remaining 35 settlements to towns built for their needs. The Israeli government claims this will improve their economic situation and access to services, but critics claim the urbanization will not allow them to maintain their traditional occupation of herding livestock. Some have called the plan a “land-grab” and accuse the government of anti-Arab racism.
JNF chairman Efi Stenzer, however, said the overwhelmingly positive response to the Negev dinner and Harper’s attendance put the demonstrations in perspective. “KKL-JNF and its supporters all over the world will continue to strengthen the State of Israel with all its strength and will act fearlessly to reinforce it,” he told
The Jerusalem Post.
Editor's Note: Blessings on ye heads O Canada!
Steve Martin
Love For His People
