TORONTO (JTA) — Canadians living in Israel have launched a crowdfunding campaign to re-elect the stridently pro-Israel Prime Minister Stephen Harper in this October’s federal election in Canada.
“As Canadians, we believe Harper is good for Canada, he is good for the Jewish community, he is good for Israel and he is good for the world. We want to help him stay in office,” said Dan Illouz, a strategic consultant and CEO of Di Consulting, which is leading the campaign.
“This campaign is here to say thank you to Prime Minister Harper. ”
The effort aims to send 10 Israeli-Canadians to Canada to vote and whip up support for Harper in Jewish communities through rallies and town hall meetings. Money will go toward buying plane tickets and renting cars for a week before the Oct. 19 vote.
Run at jewcer.com/harperisrael, the drive has raised over $2,000 in 15 days from more than 60 funders. “This is enough to send two activists, but we need more,” a statement said. The goal is $20,000 and the campaign ends in a month.
Harper “has stood by Israel on every major issue, including the fight against BDS, the fight against Iran’s nuclear weapon’s program and Israel’s fight against discrimination at the UN,” the group said. “Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been an outspoken defender of both the Jewish community in Canada and Israel. His voice of moral clarity is essential to both Israel and the Jewish world. We need him to stay prime minister. We need him re-elected!”
Recent polls show the Conservative prime minister in a tight race with the left-leaning New Democratic Party.
The Israeli-Canadians say they have no ties to the Harper campaign.
