Bateman playing politics with Israel
Instead of working to build broader consensus around support for Israel, Conservative MP Joyce Bateman is using the Jewish state to play politics.
On April 4, Ms. Bateman attacked Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in a press release for comments he made to a Persian newspaper, saying that he wants to “shift away from support for Israel…undermine Israel’s place in the world by opposing our efforts to defend their right to exist… [and] proclaiming his desire to befriend a radical regime that is determined to destroy the state of Israel.”[1]
The problem? Not a word of it is true.
An unedited video of the interview proves that Justin never said anything of the sort. He is a steadfast supporter and friend of Israel, one who has long stood against threats to her security and prosperity, including the dangerous potential posed by a nuclear-armed Iran.
So what did Justin actually say?
That “whether it’s positioning around Israel or working closely with the United States, [Stephen Harper is] very, very focused on what is going to play well at the ballot box.”
He was talking about the Conservative’s “mega-phone diplomacy” of talking a lot, but doing little. It makes headlines at home, but does not make real progress. This approach has damaged Canada’s reputation around the world, undermining our ability to work with others on pressing global challenges like climate change, arms control and refugee settlement.
Justin also pointed to the problem of the Conservatives making support for Israel a political football. As Justin has said on numerous occasions, there is an importance to having a political consensus across party lines in Ottawa that – in spite of differences on other issues – supports Israel, which, after all, is the only true democracy in a difficult and all too often hostile region of the world.
Justin also said that “there are very, very real concerns about the government in Iran that need to be addressed, but one has to make sure that you think about the citizens of Iran and the Iranian government differently. I worry that this is a nuance that this government doesn’t actually appreciate or understand.”
Indeed, the only way to secure a lasting peace is for Canada to engage with the people of Iran, to let them know that we stand in solidarity with their democratic aspirations.
Take a step back and consider this all for a moment. Instead of engaging with Justin in a debate about these real issues in a sincere way, Ms. Bateman chose to misrepresent his words in an effort to divide us. Instead of working on a positive agenda, she is trying to tear down her opponents by hook or by crook.
That’s not leadership, that’s trying to pull a fast one over your constituents so you can cling to your job in the next election.
Yours sincerely,
Marc Garneau, MP
Liberal Party of Canada Foreign Affairs Critic
613-996-7267