Leaders of Canada’s three political parties stressed their nation’s solidarity with Israel and expressed the hope that peace would soon reign in the Middle East. These views were expressed at the third annual dinner meeting for 150 members of Parliament on the occasion of Israel’s 26th anniversary. The dinner was sponsored by the Canada-Israel committee.
Robert Stanfield, president of the Progressive Conservative Party, said that “the challenge to Israel’s friends is to do what our decency requires–help Israel to reach peace. Pressure should be resisted and I look to Holland with pride for that reason. Maybe some day it will be our time to be tested for our will to resist pressure.” He expressed optimism regarding peace prospects in the Mideast “and about Canada helping the coming of peace in an atmosphere of good will for all.”
David Lewis, leader of the National Democratic Party, and member of Parliament, said he was also speaking “as the Jew David Lewis whose heart is full of anxiety in regard to the future of the State of Israel (which is) surrounded by enemy nations and threatened with annihilation. The problem of the Palestinians will not be solved by war or terrorism.”
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Mitchell Sharp, declared that Canada’s “standing policy is the recognition of Israel’s right to exist in a climate of peace under secure and recognized borders.” He said that negotiations, direct or indirect, between the parties involved in the conflict are essential if peace is to be achieved in the Mideast. “Each time there is an outbreak of terrorism like that in Kiryat Shemona the act must be condemned regardless of the aims of the terrorists.”
ISRAEL ON LIST FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS
Sharp noted that relations between Canada and Israel have become closer due to frequent contacts between both peoples. Some 12,000 Israelis visited Canada in 1973, he said, adding. Foreign Minister Abba Eban will pay a visit to Ottawa sometime in June. The Secretary also observed that the Canadian government is willing to sell nuclear reactors to any nation provided they are used for peaceful purposes.
Focusing on a similar point, Donald Mac-Donald, Federal Minister of Energy and Resources, said that although Canada is currently concentrating on selling nuclear reactors to Iran because that country has the money to pay for it, “Israel is on the list and we’ll be quite prepared to sell one to Israel.” He noted, however, that Canada has reached “almost its capacity to finance the selling” of reactors.
CANADA’S ATTITUDE TOWARD ISRAEL
MacDonald also told the meeting that “the establishment of diplomatic relations by Canada with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries will ultimately serve the interest of the Jewish community in Canada and Israel because in moments of international tension we can play the role we have diplomatically played for the last 20 years, that is, to help in the understanding of the position of the other side, As for the apprehension within, the Jewish community and the speculation about a possible erosion of Canada’s position toward Israel, MacDonald stressed that trade with Arab states will not affect Canadian foreign
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