Israeli and Canadian politicians last week celebrated 60 years of diplomatic relations between their two countries.
Lawrence Cannon
May 11 marked “a milestone that reflects the breadth and depth of the links between two democratic allies,” Lawrence Cannon, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, said in a statement, after an all-party motion was passed in the House of Commons marking the occasion.
“One of the underlying strengths of the Canada-Israel relationship is the extensive network of informal links between our two countries,” Cannon said. “There are some 20,000 Canadian citizens living in Israel, and many Canadians have family there. The Canadian Jewish community is 350,000 strong and acts as an important bridge between Canada and Israel. These strong ties give rise to significant co-operation between our two countries in business, education, culture, philanthropy and tourism.”
Cannon also cited the ever-strengthening bond between the Canada and the Jewish state, and pointed to recent examples “evidenced by increased co-operation in several areas, including public security, defence, trade and investment, and an increase in political-level contact.”
According to the government of Canada website, “Israel is Canada’s fourth-largest merchandise export market in the Middle East and North Africa… [and] Canada’s top exports to Israel are machinery, electrical machinery, paper and newsprint, plastics, wood and aluminum. Canada’s top imports from Israel are pharmaceutical products, electrical machinery, precious stones and metals, machinery, optical equipment and organic chemicals.”
In another statement, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff reflected on the goodwill shared by both countries, calling it “a relationship between proud allies, built on our mutual respect, our common commitment to democracy and our shared hopes for a peaceful future.”
He added: “On May 11, 1949, Canada recognized Israel’s independence. I am proud that it was a Liberal government that did so.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman took time to emphasize the importance of the relationship, terming it a “special friendship.”
“Not only was Canada one of the 33 countries who voted for the establishment of the state in the UN on Nov. 29, 1947… the Canadian representative also played a central role in the passing of the resolution,” Lieberman said, and he singled out the important role of the Jewish community in Canada “in the preservation and strengthening” of the relationship.
“The diverse relationship between the two countries is currently expressed by [a] free-trade agreement, [a] joint industrial [research and development] fund, and bilateral co-operation in many fields, including agricultural research, water treatment, internal security, legal co-operation, relationships between universities and cultural exchanges,” he added.
Also marking the occasion was the Canada-Israel Committee.
Its chair, Moshe Ronen, thanked parliamentarians for their continuing support of Israel.
“On behalf of Canada’s pro-Israel community, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to all members of Parliament for their unanimous support of this resolution. We are particularly thrilled that Israel’s Knesset adopted a similar resolution today,” he said.
“The multi-partisan support given to today’s resolution in [the] House of Commons speaks to the demonstrable growth in the Canada-Israel relationship over the past several years. As we look to the future, I am confident that Canada’s relationship with Israel will continue to flourish.”
Commemorative events for the anniversary are scheduled to continue throughout the rest of 2009 via “a number of diplomatic, cultural and academic events in Canada and Israel,” according to the ministries of foreign affairs for both nations.
Amir Gissin, Israel’s consul general for Toronto and western Canada, told The CJN that all events planned by the Israeli and Canadian embassies for this year will be done “under the headline of 60 years of diplomatic relations,” and he alluded to major upcoming Israel-themed events at Toronto’s Luminato Festival and later this year at the Toronto International Film Festival. He added that Montreal’s Les Grands Ballets Canadiens is also scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv later this year to mark the Israeli city’s 100th anniversary.
