Do you remember when USA was Israel’s closest friend? When the relationship between both countries was warm, and cordial?
When both sides had a commitment to preserving the security of that proud little nation in the desert, an oasis of liberty in the midst of a desert of despots?
It seems like it’s been a long time.
Obama’s admin has been so busy telling NASA to make Islam feel appreciated, or telling Nigeria not to be so harsh with the gays, making Syria worse, and not apprehending those who murdered their Libyan ambassador, that they don’t seem to have too much time left over for Israel. [In fairness, it’s hard to get the word out about mistreated gays in Nigeria over the screams of dying Christians, but Kerry won’t let such little distractions side-track him from his important human rights issues.]
That doesn’t mean that Israel has no allies left in the world.
In fact, history was quietly made on Monday when Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the first Canadian Prime Minister to address the Knesset. It was a speech that culminated with the very telling phase “Through Fire and Water, Canada will stand with you.”
Here is an excerpt:
… the special friendship between Canada and Israel is rooted in shared values. Indeed, Israel is the only country in the Middle East, which has long anchored itself in the ideals of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. These are not mere notions. They are the things that, over time and against all odds, have proven to be the only ground in which human rights, political stability, and economic prosperity, may flourish. These values are not proprietary; they do not belong to one nation or one people. Nor are they a finite resource; on the contrary, the wider they are spread, the stronger they grow.
(Video and Text of full speech.)
Here is some of what he said Canadian support for Israel will mean:
Our view on Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is absolute and non-negotiable. Second, Canada believes that Israel should be able to exercise its full rights as a UN member-state and to enjoy the full measure of its sovereignty.
I remember a time, not so long ago when such an address would have been uttered by an American Commander-In-Chief. Sadly, I cannot imagine the guy you’ve got now saying any of it with conviction.
It makes me a little nervous to ask the obvious next question… if Obama has abandoned his friendship with Israel, whose values mirror that of traditional America, to whom is he looking for friendship, instead?
