Globe and Mail Essay

In 2011, when sitting on a bus the day following the May 2nd election of
Steven Harpers government, we were asked to raise our hand if we
were pleased with the election outcome. Instantly, the entire bus
hands shot up, unequivocally supporting the man who had just
achieved a strong election victory. I was a rarity among my peers, one
of the few to be politically active in my riding, having campaigned for
my candidate in my riding, but I was also one of the few Jews on that
trip who did not support Steven Harper that election.
What kept coming up, no matter whom I asked, no matter what their
exposure to the political process was, is that Steven Harper
unequivocally supported Israel, and he was the best for Israel. Yet,
I had to wonder, how could we as Canadians know what was best for
Israel, let alone support our own domestic candidate based on a
single campaign platform. Mr. Harper fails to realize that unequivocal
support for Israel does not mean we are doing the best thing for Israel.
I like to think my connections to Israel run deep, I speak passable
Hebrew, I have Israeli friends, and have travelled to the region four
times before. Yet, I can tell you that many Israelis have trouble figuring
out what policy will lead to a lasting peace. My faivourite quote there,
having travelled to the country last year during their heated election
period was that when you put three Israelis in a room you get four
opinions. To say that I or any diaspora Canadian knows what is good
for Israel is unfair and even insensitive.
Canada has been known as a peace broker in the region, following in
the steps of Lester B. Pearson and other Prime Ministers to follow,
diplomacy has purely been the strategy of this nations governments.
Mr. Harpers Conservatives have spun that on its head, taking a
hawkish stance many Israelis would find threatening to the delicate
peace process that the majority of Israelis support. Mr. Harper sees the
Middle East in two shades, light and dark, good and bad, Israel and the
rest. We serve only to ostracize ourselves further if we continue to
abide by this dichotomy.
Mr. Harper continues to see Israel as an island of democracy
surrounded by a tumultuous sea. Yet, by supporting a government
whether no matter is policies certainly lessens its democratic values of
challenging authority and standing up for the rights of the
downtrodden, values that permeate both Israeli and especially its
armys culture.
Its time that we return to our middle position, Canada needs Israel as
a friend and Israel needs Canadas friendship as well. But even friends
sometimes need to tell each other that they need to change, or
suggest other courses of action. And its time Canada does that for
Israel, retaking the position of a middle power and helping it find
lasting and peaceful solutions with its neighbours through diplomacy
and cooperation.

Israels existence as a Jewish state is one which needs to continue to

protect its fragile existence. Its time for the Harper government to do
whats right for Israel and support it and its neighbours in achieving a
lasting peace.