The Trudeau government has been campaigning aggressively for a seat on the Security Council, but its bid to win a place on the United Nations’ most powerful decision-making body later this month will be hampered by Canada’s decidedly anti-Palestinian voting record.
Despite claiming to support the “international rules based order,” the Trudeau government has voted against more than 50 resolutions upholding Palestinian rights. The extent to which the Liberals have mimicked the Stephen Harper Conservative’s position regarding General Assembly resolutions, which are little more than symbolic acts of solidarity with the long-beleaguered Palestinians, highlights the power of the Israeli lobby in Canada.
Together the United Jewish Appeal/Combined Jewish Appeal of Toronto, Montréal, Winnipeg, Windsor, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, Vancouver and Atlantic Canada raise over $100 million annually and have about $1 billion in assets. For half a century UJA Toronto has organized an annual Walk with Israel and the Montréal branch organizes an annual Israel Day march. Many thousands march each year. The lobbying arm of the UJA/CJA, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has over 40 staff and a $10 million budget. In addition, B’nai B’rith has a handful of offices across the country. For its part, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center Canada’s budget is $7 to 10 million annually.
These groups work closely with StandWithUs Canada, CAMERA, Honest Reporting Canada and other (often extreme right wing) Israeli nationalist political organizations. Dozens of registered Canadian charities, ranging from the Jewish National Fund to Christians United for Israel also engage in at least some pro-Israel campaigning.
Since 2013 the chief fundraiser for the Trudeau Liberals has been Stephen Bronfman, scion of a Canadian-American family who built their fortunes off of Seagram’s liquor. Bronfman has millions invested in Israeli technology companies. Over the years the Bronfman clan has secured arms for Israeli forces and supported its military in other ways.
Other notable Canadian moguls have long histories of ensuring ties between Israel and Canada.
Worth more than $3 billion prior to his death, David Azrieli was the ninth richest person in Canada. In his youth he served in the paramilitary Haganah group during the 1948 war in the Seventh Brigade. His unit is responsible for the Battle of Jerusalem, including forcibly displacing around 10,000 Palestinians. He was also a real estate developer in Israel, and built the largest residential towers in the country. In 2011 Azrielis made a controversial donation to Im Tirtzu, a hardline Israeli-nationalist organization (deemed a “fascist” group by an Israeli court).
Canadian-Israeli Sylvan Adams in recent years has plowed tens of millions of dollars into various sports and cultural initiatives to rebrand Israel.
In “A story of failed re-engagement: Canada and Iran, 2015–2018” University of Ottawa professor Thomas Juneau highlighted the Israel lobby’s role in deterring the government from re-establishing diplomatic relations with Iran:
“Initially, Cabinet and most caucus supported re-engagement. Dion, who was actively lobbied by Bombardier (whose headquarters were in his riding) and the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, was especially keen. Other senior ministers such as Freeland (International Trade) and Harjit Sajjan (Defence) also supported. With time, however, opposition within caucus grew. It was led by Michael Levitt, the influential MP for York-Center and chair of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, and also included Anthony Housefather (MP for Mount-Royal). These MPs had support from former minister Irwin Cotler, who had long argued for harsher policies towards Iran.”
Juneau continued,
“other interviewees also highlighted the differences in organization among pressure groups. Between the tabling of the motion [to oppose reengaging with Iran] and the vote four days later, groups opposing reengagement, such as the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, rapidly launched an effective campaign to pressure MPs. Groups favoring reengagement, however, such as the Iranian Canadian Congress, were unable to match these lobbying efforts.”
In 2019 Trudeau’s Liberal party ousted high-profile Imam Hassan Guillet as a candidate after B’nai B’rith attacked him for challenging Israeli expansionism. The winner of the Saint-Leonard-Saint-Michel riding nomination gained global notoriety for his sermon at the memorial for the victims of the 2017 Québec City mosque attack, but when B’nai B’rith twisted his pro-Palestinian statements to imply he was antisemitic the Liberals dumped their star candidate.
Similarly, when members of the extremist Jewish Defence League attacked peaceful pro-Palestinian activists protesting a presentation by Israeli military reservists at York University Trudeau sided with the thugs. Following a statement by B’nai B’rith, CIJA and the Israel lobby’s point person in the Liberal government, Michael Levitt, Trudeau denounced “antisemitism” by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The influence of CIJA, B’nai B’rith, Bronfman, Adams, etc. sets a backdrop to the Trudeau government’s anti-Palestinian voting record at the UN. Whether that will scuttle Canada’s bid for a seat on the Security Council is to be determined.
But, we should hope so. Please join over 100 organizations and dozens of prominent individuals that have signed an open letter calling on UN member states to vote for Canada’s competitors, Norway and Ireland, for the two non-permanent Security Council spots open for Western countries.
Trudeau’s shameful support for Israeli criminality,
highlighted by (multiple) paroxysms of savage violence and cruelty.
I will never forget,
never forgive
Trudeau’s support for the murder of hundreds of Palestinian children –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmG_MlcL6TE
Until Canadian government policy on Israel changes, Canada should not have a seat on the Security Council.
I see a broader reason why Trudeau’s Canada should not receive a temporary seat on the Security Council.
The Security Council certainly has no need for yet another echo of American foreign policy.
It already has pathetic Britain. And France.
Trudeau’s Canada has little to contribute to the UN’s mission in the cause of peace and the international rule of law. It has been a fairly close supporter of Trump policies. Trudeau’s foreign minister in his last government was Chrystia Freeland, a person well-regarded by the likes of the bellicose Mike Pompeo.
I’m not happy saying that because in the past Canada has contributed some important figures in world affairs.
Justin Trudeau has let go of the traditions which gave Canada a fine reputation in the world, the traditions of his father, Pierre Trudeau, of Lester Pearson, of Paul Martin, and of Jean Chretien.
When elected, Canada’s Conservative Party always closely toes the American line, but the Liberal Party had a proud history of some real independence of views and made some real contributions, but not anymore.
CONT’D…
CONT’D…
Justin Trudeau actively supports the malicious efforts against a twice-elected President in Venezuela, and Justin Trudeau’s government has literally ruined Canada’s relations with China over American false claims and hostile policies. Justin Trudeau doesn’t speak out against any of the destructive activities underway by the US today.
Including new US hostility towards Cuba, a place his father was famous for establishing independent good relationships with, despite American opposition. His father also was a strong critic of America’s holocaust in Vietnam, but Justin says not a word about America’s bloody efforts in half a dozen places. And he continues to sell Saudi Arabia armored cars, seemingly without losing any sleep over the bloody war that country has inflicted on Yemen (with US support, of course).
No, I don’t see Justin Trudeau has anything to contribute to the UN Security Council. He has pushed hard for the seat because his government failed in so many ways in its first four years. From scandals to lack of decisiveness, he blundered and lost public support. He nearly collapsed politically, receiving in the last election just under a third of votes.
So, he wants to rebuild some prestige, and the UN seat is one way he hopes to do so, and I’m sure the US would be glad to see him there, but I just do not believe he deserves the distinction.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/05/19/no-argue-noam-chomsky-roger-waters-monia-mazigh-and-100-others-canada-does-not
“No—Argue Noam Chomsky, Roger Waters, Monia Mazigh, and 100+ Others—Canada Does Not Deserve UN Security Council Seat”
“‘Despite its peaceful reputation, Canada is not acting as a benevolent player on the international stage,’ warns open letter from activists, artists, and academics.” By Jon Queally, Common Dreams, May 19/20
EXCERPT: “As Canada vies for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council an open letter published Tuesday argues the Ottawa government—despite a more rosy reputation compared to its powerful U.S. neighbor—should be seen for what it more accurately is: a powerful international force in its own right that continues to play a negative role on the world stage when it comes to militarism and endless war, human rights abuses, environmental degradation both at home and abroad, and its outsized role in exacerbating the climate crisis.
“‘The international community should not reward bad behaviour,’ the signatories argue in the letter and an adjoining online petition.
“The signers of the letter—who include Harsha Walia, Noam Chomsky, Rogers Waters, Bianca Mugyenyi, Kanahus Manuel, Richard Falk, and over one hundred others—highlight Canada’s woeful silence and disregard when it comes to the abuse of the Palestinian people and the Israeli government’s most recent effort to annex the Occupied Territories of the West Bank.
“As highlighted Tuesday by Michael Lynk, associate professor of law at Western University and special rapporteur for the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation in the Palestinian territory, the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been noticeably absent even as countries like Ireland and Norway—which are also vying for the UNSC seat—have publicly spoken out against Israel’s efforts.” (cont’d)
“Where is Canada on such an issue of grave international importance? ‘I argue that Canada is missing in action,’ wrote Lynk. ‘No public statements against Israel’s annexation proposal have been issued. No planned accountability measures have been floated. No criticism, however mild, has been offered.’
“The open letter, also backed by 20 organizations, makes a similar critique. ‘In the Middle East, Canada has sided with Israel on almost every issue of importance,’ the letter states. ‘Since coming to power the Trudeau government has voted against more than fifty U.N. resolutions upholding Palestinian rights backed by the overwhelming majority of member states. The Canadian government has refused to abide by 2016 U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334, calling on member states to ‘distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied in 1967.'”