Ivan Head, Premier Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s foreign policy advisor, denied today that Canada will tilt away from Israel toward a pro-Arab stance in the Middle East conflict. Responding to an article by the Toronto Star’s foreign affairs writer, Mark Gayn, who claimed that such a shift would occur when Canada takes its seat in the United Nations Security Council, Head emphasized that Canadian foreign policy is designed to benefit Canada and reflect the state of the world. Under no circumstances can it be interpreted as directed against traditional friends of Canada such as Israel, Head declared.
He said that a speech by Trudeau to the Canadian Jewish Congress two years ago in which the Premier said there must be sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence for Israel and every other Middle East state, was and remains the definitive statement of Canada’s Mideast policy.
Gayn’s forecast, however, has stirred some concern here among friends of Israel. The writer, who is known to hold strong pro-Israel views, claimed that as a member of the Security Council Canada would side increasingly with the Third World even at the risk of antagonizing some of its traditional allies and partners.
He said that some members of Parliament were worried by the expected tilt away from Israel. Canada will not agree to the destruction of Israel and is certain to press for its preservation as an independent state “within secure boundaries.” But the “love feast” with Israel is near
Gayn also warned that there is now, in the External Affairs Department, an influential group of Arabists who favor “leaning on Israel” to induce it to make concessions
TRUDEAU MUM ON MIDEAST POLICY
(In Tel Aviv today, Trudeau and his wife ended their four-day visit to Israel on a cordial note. But the Canadian chief executive refused to answer reporters’ questions about Canada’s Middle East policy. Premier Yitzhak Rabin, who saw the Trudeaus off at Ben Gurion Airport, said that Canada’s policies would be determined by its own best interests.
(Rabin, and Israeli Foreign Minister Yigal Allon met privately with Trudeau during his visit. They said the Canadian leader had learned a great deal about Israel and its ideas for a Mideast settlement. “When the Middle East is discussed in Canada, I am sure the Prime Minister will know the subject thoroughly,” Rabin said.)
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
