Stephen Harper Observes Israel's 60th birthday

Prime Minister Stephen harper addresses the United Jewish Appeal Federation, affirming "Canada's unshakable support for Israel!" and assuring those in attendance that "Our government believes that those who threaten Israel also threaten Canada!" He also couragously asserted "In this ongoing battle, Canada stands side by side with the state of Israel, our friend and ally in the democratic family of nations. We have stood with Israel even when it has not been popularto do so and we will contrinue to stand with Israel just as we have said we would!"

Here is the first part of the speech and I for one thank Prime Minister Harper for the courage of his conviction and standing up for this dymanic oasis of democracy and hope in a part of the world that so desperately needs both!


(Check aganst delivery)
I am truly honoured.All of my life, Israel has been a symbol, a symbol of the triumph of hope and faith! After 1945, our battered world desperately needed to be lifted out of postwar darkness and despair.After so much pain and suffering, humanity offered comforting and optimism.After so much death and destruction, we needed renewal. The renewal of the dream of the better and more civilized world. In short, we needed to be INSPIRED and it was the people who had suffered MOST who provided that inspiration.

By their example, they led the world back to the light. From shattered Europe and other countries, near and far. The descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob made their way home. Their pilgrimage was the culmination of a 2,000 year old dream. It is a tribute to the unconquestionable human aspiration for freedom and a testament to the indomitable sprit of the Jewish people!

Ce soir derniers annees, Israel est devenu un de pays le plus prospere du monde!

In the sixty years that followed, Israel blossomed into one of the most successful countries on earth. A land of ingenuity and enterprise, an oasis of agricultural genius, a wellspring of fine art and high culture, a model of democracy, Israel truly is the miracle in the desert.

But the source of Israel's strength and success is in my view, its commitment to the values of all civilized people - freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Soon, I hope to have the opportunity to travel to Israel, to see the miracle with my own eyes; to see how millions of people from all over the earth with their countless different languages and traditions, came together to build a modern, prosperous, vibrant, democratic country. It is a pilgrimage I have wanted to make for a long time but my determination to do so was redoubled this spring after I visited Auschwitz . I want to see first hand what the survivors of the Holocaust and their descendents have accomplished. For theirs is truly an achievement of resilience and renewal unsurpassed in the annals of human history.

I also want to go to deliver in person the message of Canada's unshakable support for Israel!

Malaheursement, a 60 ans, I'Israel demere ne pays menace. Menace par une groups et une regime qui ni juste que une jours son doit d'exister! Unfortunately, Israel at 60 remains a country under threat, threatened by these groups and regimes who deny to this very day its right to exist!

And why? And why friends?

Make NO mistake! Look beyond the thinly veiled rationalizations. Because they hate Israel, just as they hate the Jewish people. Let me tell you friends. Our government believes that those who threaten Israel also threaten Canada!

As the last world war showed, hatred and bigorty against SOME is ultimately a threat to us all and must be resisted wherever it may lurk.

In this ongoing battle, Canada stands side by side with the state of Israel, our friend and ally in the democratic family of nations. We have stood with Israel even when it has not been popularto do so and we will contrinue to stand with Israel just as we have said we would! One of his best speeches imho! Shalom Mr. Harper!

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News & Politics

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• Canada
• Israel

[richard20bris]

@lancedyer1 you've confused Israel with every single Arab/Muslim country. Arabs (especially Arab women) enjoy more rights in Israel than in ANY other Middle Eastern country (e.g. try being gay in Saudi Arabia or Iran). Jews (Israelis and American/European Jews) have won more than 160 Nobel Prizes, while Muslims have only won half a dozen or so, despite the fact that there are over 1.2 BILLION Muslims in the world but only 12 million Jews. Muslims should be ashamed at their laziness.

[Maleincornwall]

AMAZING I LOVE U!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lancedyer1]

It is indeed a shame the Canadian PM is such a retard. (Irony!)

[ShizjaBe]

@lancedyer1 retard, really a retard, so sad :( u dont really understand a thing about this world :(

[lancedyer1]

Israel a symbol? Agree - of prejudice, ethnic cleansing (of Palestinians), warmongering, racism, undemocratic, non-compliance of UN resolutions, non-compliance with IAEA inspections, trampling over human rights etc etc Why does no one support the rights of Palestine? If I were Canadian I would truly cringe at this - poor judgement and a lack of any objectivity! No wonder there will be no peace in the Middle East while Israel is supported like this misguided PM.

[aristurtle1]

@theresmoretoit1 Why is it that anytime someone speaks against the human rights violations of Israel some people just call them racist? DO you feel that Israel has the right to do whatever it wants because of the holocaust? Or do you just like them because of their religious beliefs. Also is using torture and covering it up , a method of self defence? How about their increasing expansion into Palestinian land? Or the rampant racism all over Israel against Arabs? Should we all just ignore that?

[theresmoretoit1]

@aristurtle1 Ah ignorance is bliss for the Jew haters trying to pretend they actually care about the Pals.

Tell me something even if your stat were to be correct, how many Jews would the Pals & the surrounding neo - Nazis killed if Israel did not defend itself. Your just pissed that Israel has thus far survived the struggle against those that wish to finish Hitlers job.

[aristurtle1]

BEFORE YOU SUPPORT ISRAEL

Israels soldiers beating women

youtube(dot)com/watch?v=c_k4Iw­­Io398

How about the use of torture by Israel and their coverup: .guardian(dot)co(dot)uk/world/­­2000/feb/11/israel

Or the Nazi like idea of a "Jewish state" and the enormous racism statistics in Israel:

ynetnews(dot)com/articles/0,73­­40,L-3480345,00.html

OR the killing of 1400 Palestinians in 2008?

Israel is a racist apartheid state not worthy of our support.

[aristurtle1]

@theresmoretoit1 He wrongfully promotes them as this pillar of freedom in the midst of savages and justifies their right to do whatever they want with holocaust pity.

There is nothing inspiring about supporting a country that kills 10 for every 1 innocent people in their struggle for occupation. Nor is there anything admirable about Canada, a multicultural society supporting an apartheid "jewish state" and the nationalism and supremacy that they stand for.

[theresmoretoit1]

@aristurtle1 If you listened to his speech you would know why he liked Israel so much because it it the same basis that many of us non- religious people have and I believe his speech was very heartfelt & inspiring and particularly at this time needs to be heard.