October 12,2010
To the Editor,
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The Canada-Israel Committee (CIC) congratulates Canada for its efforts in seeking to obtain a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Canada’s desire to serve on the UNSC reflects a clear desire to contribute towards improving the efficacy of the institution, and to assert Canada’s voice and values in the international arena.
Although some have suggested that Canada’s support for Israel is one of the reasons it was unsuccessful in its bid for a seat on the Security Council, Canadians should be proud of our principled support for Israel at the UN. It is widely recognized that Israel is singled out and subjected to a wide range of discriminatory behaviour due to the automatic majority of Muslim and Arab countries that exists in many UN bodies. This is particularly true at the UN Human Rights Council where, for example, the review of alleged human rights abuses by Israel is a permanent feature of every council session; no other country is subjected to similar treatment. Canada’s actions in support of Israel are an expression of our country’s sense of fairness and honest desire to play a constructive role in the peace process.
"It would have been easy for Prime Minister Harper to have adopted the politically expedient but regrettably popular behaviour at the UN of scapegoating and marginalizing Israel. Instead, the Conservative government stood by Israel when it was singled out for unfair treatment. Canada’s actions in support of Israel at the UN were always based on what was the right thing to do, not what was politically fashionable, and for this, the government deserves the deepest praise,” stated Moshe Ronen, National Chair, CIC.
Finally, it is shameful that certain Canadian organizations actively lobbied against Canada’s bid for a seat on the UNSC. The Canadian Arab Federation, in particular, issued a press release on September 24th calling on Arab and Muslim states to vote against Canada.
Canada Israel Committee