United with Israel encourages its followers to acknowledge Canada’s brave defense of Israel and the Free World.
The Canadian government, true to its policies since the election of Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2006, again demonstrated courage, in the aftermath of the dangerous new deal brokered between Iran and the six global powers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the agreement a “historic mistake” that poses a grave danger to the Jewish state and the Western World. Canada was unique among nations in its outspoken opposition to the accord with Iran signed by the P5+1 – the US, France, the UK, China, Russia and Germany.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird expressed “skepticism” regarding Iran’s “ability to honor its obligations.”
“Effective sanctions have brought the regime to present a more moderate front and open the door to negotiations. Today’s deal cannot be abused or undermined by deception. The Iranian people deserve the freedom and prosperity that they have been denied for too long by the regime’s nuclear ambitions. Until then, Canadian sanctions will remain tough, and in full force.”
“A nuclear Iran is not just a threat to Canada and its allies, but it would also seriously damage the integrity of decades of work on nuclear non-proliferation,” Baird said.” It would provoke other neighboring states to develop their own nuclear deterrent in an already volatile region.”
Not for the first time, Canadian Jewish leaders are commending the Harper government for its principled stand.
“The Geneva agreement fails to address or reverse Iran’s ability to produce weapons grade uranium”, said Frank Dimant, CEO, B’nai Brith Canada. “We commend the Harper government for acknowledging Iran has not earned the right to have the benefit of the doubt. Biting sanctions have taken their toll on the Iranian economy and were one of the few effective ways to put a halt to Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons.”
Already in June 2008, Harper became the first Canadian to receive the B’nai Brith International President’s Gold Medallion in recognition of the government’s efforts to fight discrimination and uphold human rights in Canada and around the world.
“The award of the Gold Medallion generously acknowledges that the actions of our government are guided by the principle that hate and discrimination have no place in a civilized society,” Harper had stated, upon receiving the award.
On December 1st, Harper attended the Jewish National Fund-Toronto’s Negev Dinner as its 2013 honoree. JNF Canada, in fact, has launched the building of the Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor and Education Centre in a nature park in northern Israel.
“Under the direction of Prime Minister Harper, Canada is now a leader in the international fight against anti-Semitism and raising awareness of the heinous crimes of the Holocaust,” says the JNF website. “At the UN, Canada stands tall as a nation of principle by defending the freedom and dignity of all people.”
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) in Canada issued a statement that “fully supports the government of Canada’s decision to maintain sanctions against Iran until ‘unfettered access’ to all Iranian nuclear facilities is achieved and verifiable implementation of the deal has been attained.”
The deal made in Geneva has “empowered one of the world’s foremost exporters of terrorism and made the Middle East, and indeed the entire planet, a much more dangerous place,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo.
“We think past actions best predict future actions,” Baird asserted. “And Iran has defied the United Nations Security Council, it has defied the International Atomic Energy Agency. Simply put Iran has not earned the right to have the benefit of the doubt.”
To send a message of support to Prime Minister Harper, email stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca or phone 613-992-4211. For Minister Baird, email john.baird@parl.gc.ca or call (613) 990-7720.
Author: Atara Beck, Staff Writer for United with Israel