Harper vows to stand up for Israel
By Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Stephen Harper says he'll take a forceful stand against anti-Israel rhetoric no matter the political cost to his government at international organizations such as the United Nations and the Francophonie.
The prime minister delivered the opening speech Monday at a two-day conference on anti-Semitism, taking place on Parliament Hill.
He noted Canada's unsuccessful bid for a UN security council seat this fall, saying he believes the country is morally obligated to stand up against those who would attack Israel.
"And I know, by the way, because I have the bruises to show for it, that whether it is at the United Nations or any other international forum, the easy thing to do is simply to just get along and go along with this anti-Israel rhetoric, to pretend it is just being even-handed, and to excuse oneself with the label of honest broker.
"There are, after all, a lot more votes — a lot more — in being anti-Israel than in taking a stand."
The reference to "honest broker" was a thinly veiled swipe at Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
To read more, click here:
The prime minister delivered the opening speech Monday at a two-day conference on anti-Semitism, taking place on Parliament Hill.
He noted Canada's unsuccessful bid for a UN security council seat this fall, saying he believes the country is morally obligated to stand up against those who would attack Israel.
"And I know, by the way, because I have the bruises to show for it, that whether it is at the United Nations or any other international forum, the easy thing to do is simply to just get along and go along with this anti-Israel rhetoric, to pretend it is just being even-handed, and to excuse oneself with the label of honest broker.
"There are, after all, a lot more votes — a lot more — in being anti-Israel than in taking a stand."
The reference to "honest broker" was a thinly veiled swipe at Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
To read more, click here:
Full text of speech even more amazing: http://goo.gl/yA4MX
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