For many years, Jewish Liberal supporters have vigorously claimed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are pandering to the community.
Well, guess what? The shoe is now on the other foot, and the pandering comes courtesy of Justin Trudeau and the Liberals.
Don’t believe me? Let’s examine Trudeau’s July 15 statement about the situation in Gaza. It reads as follows:
“The Liberal Party of Canada strongly condemns Hamas’ rejection of the Egyptian ceasefire proposal and its rocket attacks on civilians.
“Israel should be commended for having accepted the ceasefire proposal and demonstrating its commitment to peace. The Liberal Party of Canada, and many in the international community including the United States, the UN Security Council, and the Palestinian Authority, had urged a ceasefire that could have ended the tragic civilian loss of life in Gaza and the suffering of Israelis under terrorist attack.
“Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Hamas is a terrorist organization and must cease its rocket attacks immediately.”
Think about it for a moment. The Liberals have made various statements criticizing Harper’s staunch support for Israel. They’ve also called on the federal government to take a more balanced approach in handling negotiations between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
Yet Canada’s third party suddenly had an epiphany about the Middle East because Hamas, a terrorist organization that runs Gaza with an iron fist, predictably rejected Egypt’s ceasefire proposal.
That’s all it apparently took to change Liberal hearts and minds. If that’s not a classic example of pandering to a particular community, I honestly don’t know what is.
Look, we know there are card-carrying Liberals (both Jewish and non-Jewish) who support Israel and the Canadian Jewish community. To deny this fact is to deny reality.
There are other realities, however.
The Liberals took the Jewish Canadian vote for granted for decades. The Liberals never thought they would lose a significant amount of Jewish political and financial support. The Liberals couldn’t remove their political blinders fast enough to realize that Tory values and Jewish values have grown closer together. As well, the Liberals clearly misread the tea leaves when the Tories (who have long been pro-Israel) started to shift their current Middle East policy – and became Israel’s greatest friend in the western world.
In other words, the Liberals blew it.
Then again, we shouldn’t be surprised. The Liberals, who have long felt a sense of entitlement as Canada’s so-called “natural governing party,” let their guard down, made incorrect assumptions about political behaviour and voting patterns, and watched their empire crumble. They only have themselves to blame for it.
That’s why I feel Trudeau’s statement about Gaza is vapid. The Liberals believe that Israel is the main reason why many Canadian Jews support the Harper Tories. Hence, this statement is nothing more than a political ploy to regain a significant amount of lost Jewish votes.
Once again, the Liberals just don’t get it. While there are a few Jews who support the Tories because of Israel, the vast majority have shifted because they support small “c” conservative ideas.
It’s not a temporary change, folks. It’s a permanent political shift. Deal with it.
Yes, I know what some people are thinking. “Michael Taube has long been a conservative columnist and commentator. He’s known Harper for decades and worked as one of his speechwriters. What else would you expect him to say?”
Well, how about this? I never would have predicted that Canadian Jews would shift to the Tories in my lifetime. I’m obviously glad they did, and I’m pleased that I was wrong.
That being said, Canadian Jews still have an important decision to make.
Are you going to buy into Trudeau and the Liberals’ pandering about Israel and Gaza? Or are you going to be intelligent enough to realize that they don’t stand with you?
It’s your call.