Keith Landy

Parliament Hill

Late last August, I witnessed first-hand the shameful travesty of the United Nations World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. I was surrounded by vicious and visceral antisemitism and anti-Zionism, which in the most hateful terms imaginable denied the fundamental right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East and sought to marginalize the historical experience of the Jewish people.

Barely a week after the conference ended, radical Islamists wrote a new and horrific chapter in the chilling book of international terrorism, revealing for all who were willing to look with open eyes that evil deeds follow from evil words.

And now, eight months later, the body responsible for Durban, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, sits in session in Geneva and to its everlasting shame has passed a resolution that sharply condemns Israel for defending itself and endorses Palestinian terrorism against Israel. My friends, only a handful of nations had the moral fortitude to vote against this abominable resolution: the Czech Republic, Germany, the United Kingdom, Guatemala, which has stood solidly with Israel in Geneva, and, I am proud to say, Canada. Foreign Minister Graham gave an undertaking to Rabbi Melchior in Geneva to work with Israel to fight the systemic anti-Israel bias of the Commission and to vote against unbalanced and unhelpful resolutions. To date, Canada has been full value for that commitment. We say to our government that we are very grateful for its efforts so far in Geneva.

Tonight, I will be flying with Rabbi Melchior to meetings of the World Jewish Congress in Brussels, right in the heart of the resurgent European antisemitism. I assure you that our voices will be heard loudly and clearly. And this is what we tell the Belgians, and the French, and all the others: We will never forget that once again you are standing by and doing nothing while synagogues burn in your cities and Jews are attacked in your streets; that once again when you were tested for honour and decency and morality you were found so terribly wanting.

Of course, after September 11th these countries and others, including Canada, I am proud to say, supported the U.S.-led coalition to annihilate terrorism in Afghanistan. Tragically, four Canadian soldiers there to fight terrorism were killed this past week and several others were badly hurt. We mourn the loss of these brave soldiers and our thoughts go out to their bereaved families and comrades. We pray for a speedy and complete recovery of the wounded.

Friends, Israel, too, is engaged in the battle against terrorism, knowing full well that the only way to defeat terrorism is to defeat it: utterly, completely, totally. There can be no double standards, no discussion of “disproportionate responses”, no half measures in the fight against terrorism. We urge our government not to temper its support for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself. Do not place unrealistic and unjust demands on how Israel should defeat terrorism.

Terrorism is not situational; terrorism is not divisible; terrorism is not a buffet where you pick and choose your targets. Flying hijacked planes into buildings differs from strapping on a belt of explosives only by factors of technology and logistics.

You cannot say no to al-Qaeda and yes to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Al-Aqsa Brigades.

You cannot say yes to cave-to-cave sweeps and no to house-to-house sweeps.

You cannot say no to terrorism everywhere and yes to terrorism somewhere.

So here is what I do say:

Let no one sitting comfortably thousands of kilometres away instruct Israel on how to defend its very existence against terror, violence and hatred.

Let no one invest themselves with the false moral authority to say to Israel: thus far and no farther.

Let no one sacrifice Israel’s security on the altar of political expedience.

My friends, we acknowledge that Israel has many supporters across all political lines in this noble edifice behind me. Our government, a true friend of Israel, has done much; it can do much more. The Canadian Alliance has also shown itself to be a dependable and principled friend of the State of Israel. We urge other political parties to speak out on behalf of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State in the Middle East and to defend itself properly and effectively. And if you have the word “Democratic” in your party’s name, do not forsake the only state in the entire Middle East that truly is democratic. In a region of repressive dictatorships and dynastic despotisms, Israel stands as a beacon of democracy with a system of laws and a culture of human rights that increasingly looks to our own Charter of Rights and Freedoms for inspiration.

Friends, after the fall of France, Winston Churchill, knowing that in the not-too-distant future his isolated country would soon bear the full brunt of Nazi Germany’s military machine, rallied his people by saying, “Very well, then—alone.” Rabbi Melchior, I have no doubt that if necessary Israel could do “very well alone.” Its people are strong, united and infused with a renewed sense of purpose; its military is powerful and ready.

But Rabbi, on behalf of the Jewish community of Canada, I say to you and to all of our beloved brothers and sisters in Israel:

As long as we draw breath..

As long as our hearts beat…

As long as we have voices to shout…

Israel will never be alone.