'Through fire and water, Canada will stand with Israel'

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivers stirring pro-Israel speech at the Knesset • Harper: I believe the story of Israel is a great example to the world • Two Arab MKs disrupt Harper's speech • Netanyahu: Harper stands up for the truth.

Gideon Alon, Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti, Israel Hayom Staff and News Agencies

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper addresses the Knesset on Monday | Photo credit: Dudi Vaaknin

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Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper got a taste of the robustness of Israeli democracy on Monday, as he was heckled by Israeli Arab MKs during a speech at the Knesset.

As Harper condemned anti-Israel boycott efforts and denounced those who call Israel an apartheid state, two Israeli Arab MKs shouted at him and walked out. 

Ra'am Ta'al MK Ahmad Tibi shouted that the boycott efforts were against Israeli settlements and that Harper should be sitting on the Likud benches in the Knesset. A second Ra'am Ta'al MK, Talab Abu Arar, called on Harper to speak about alleged racism against Bedouin citizens of Israel. After their outbursts, the two MKs walked out of the Knesset chamber. Harper then received a standing ovation from other MKs.

"I believe the story of Israel is a great example to the world," Harper said. 

"It is a story, essentially, of a people whose response to suffering has been to move beyond resentment and build a most extraordinary society, a vibrant democracy, a freedom-loving country with an independent and rights-affirming judiciary, an innovative, world-leading 'start-up' nation.

"You have taken the collective memory of death and persecution to build an optimistic, forward-looking society, one that so values life you will sometimes release a thousand criminals and terrorists to save one of your own. In the democratic family of nations, Israel represents values which our government takes as articles of faith and principles to drive our own national life. And therefore, through fire and water, Canada will stand with you." 

Harper spoke out strongly against anti-Semitism disguised as criticism of Israel.

"We live in a world where that kind of moral relativism today runs rampant," Harper said.

"And in the garden of such moral relativism, the seeds of a much more sinister notion can be easily planted. And so we have witnessed in recent years the mutation of the old disease of anti-Semitism and the emergence of a new strain.

"We all know about the old anti-Semitism. It was crude and ignorant, and it led to the horrors of the death camps. Of course, in many dark corners, it is still with us. But, in much of the western world, the old hatred has been translated into more sophisticated language for use in polite society. People who would never say they hate and blame the Jews for their own failings or the problems of the world, instead declare their hatred of Israel and blame the only Jewish state for the problems of the Middle East.

"As once Jewish businesses were boycotted, some civil society leaders today call for a boycott of Israel. On some campuses, intellectualized arguments against Israeli policies thinly mask underlying realities, such as the shunning of Israeli academics and the harassment of Jewish students.

"Most disgracefully of all, some openly call Israel an apartheid state. Now think about that statement. Think about the twisted logic and outright malice behind that. A state, based on freedom, democracy and the rule of law, founded so that Jews can flourish as Jews and seek shelter from the shadow of the worst racist experiment in history."

Harper said Israel "is condemned in the masked language of anti-racism."

"Friends, that is nothing short of sickening," Harper said. "But, this is the face of the new anti-Semitism. It targets the Jewish people by targeting Israel and attempts to make the old bigotry acceptable to a new generation."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the Knesset on Monday, welcoming Harper and thanking him for his support of Israel. Netanyahu spoke about Harper's visit to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem after his arrival in Israel on Sunday.

"This is the Jerusalem that has been the eternal capital of the Jewish people since the time of King David, 3,000 years ago," Netanyahu said.

"There are those in the international community who try to refute our connection to Jerusalem and our land, but not you. You are well familiar with the facts, past as well as present. I want to tell you, members of the Knesset, that there are others in the international community who also know the facts. But unlike the others, Stephen, you have the courage to stand up for the truth, and you have the courage to say the truth.

"In this visit, we are discussing ways to further enhance the ties between us, as cooperating with each other helps make both countries stronger, more prosperous, more progressive. I hope that the day comes that we will find partners here in the Middle East who share our vision, many partners. I hope that the parliaments will cooperate; I hope that there will be real parliaments.

"For example, let's look at Syria. Here in the [Knesset], as you have seen, Stephen, anyone can speak their mind. They can stand up, talk, yell, irritate. But these are not things that can be done in Damascus. Only here in Israel do we have freedom. I must say that I have not found that our friends, Israeli Arabs, want to take leave of Israel. They all want to be here, and justly so. I understand them."

Earlier on Monday, Harper met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. A Palestinian official told Israel Hayom that the meeting was somewhat tense, due to Harper's unflinching support for Israel. According to the official, Abbas and Harper discussed the possibility of Canada taking part in a solution for the Palestinian refugee issue. However, Harper said that, as of now, Canada has not been asked to take in Palestinian refugees.

"We obviously understand the various challenges that Palestinians face," Harper said. "That's why again today, and obviously over a long period of time, the government of Canada has supported Palestinians in critical areas: humanitarian aid, political development, security development, peace process, and we will continue to do so. Canada is a strong supporter of the peace process. Our position is not an Israeli position or a Palestinian position, it's a Canadian position of principle, supported by the overall majority of Canadians and at its heart is our belief that the critical issues must be resolved through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians themselves."

Before meeting with Abbas, Harper toured the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

On Tuesday morning, Harper met with President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Ron Prosor told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that Palestinian incitement against Israel poses a major obstacle to peace.

"From cradles to kindergartens and from schools to soccer stadiums, Palestinian children are besieged by messages of hate," Prosor said.

"They are born in hospitals named after violent Palestinian groups, attend schools named after terrorists, and are taught from textbooks that describe Zionism as racism.

"The Palestinian leadership has yet to learn that real peace requires real commitment. You cannot condemn terrorism to international media and congratulate terrorists on Palestinian media. You cannot victimize others and then insist you are the victim."