Carney and Israel

One of the things most newly elected Canadian prime ministers have done was to visit Israel, connect with its prime minister to pledge the allegiance of Canada to that country.

Former prime minister Paul Martin did not. Jean Chretien did. And so did Stephen Harper. Justin Trudeau did not, however, a couple of MPs, Liberal Anthony Housefather and Conservative Michelle Remple Garner went there. Whether the visit was condoned by Trudeau (when he was prime minister) is not known.

So far current Prime Minister Mark Carney has broken away from going and according to party members, will certainly not try to visit Israel until such time as a firm truce between Israel and Hamas is guaranteed.

At a rally in Calgary, Carney committed his new government to an arms embargo, something former prime ministers have not had the courage to do. Although the United States is still supplying Israel with arms, it would be hoped U.S. President Donald Trump would follow the lead of Canada, Italy, Japan, Spain, Columbia, the Netherlands and Belgium, all of whom no longer supply that country with weapons.

Britain and France are debating it, but we know Israeli supporters and the arms industry in both those countries are very powerful.

It is difficult for the average person to understand why anyone would find it necessary to assure fidelity to a country that is responsible for so many deaths of innocent women and children. I believe the majority of Canadians, no matter their party, would find it appalling if our prime minister were to assure Isreal’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that we are his friend.

Frank Martens, Summerland

(Editor’s note: On Monday, Carney, along with the leaders of Britain and France, in a joint statement, warned their countries would take action if Israel does not stop a renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions.)