Israeli election is Canada’s opportunity for a reset

As Israelis await the formation of their next government following this week’s election, the Canadian government has an opportunity to rebuild trust and pursue a practical partnership with Israel rooted in shared strategic interests.

The Canada-Israel relationship is larger than any government. It rests on nearly 80 years of diplomatic relations, 30 years of free trade and deep people-to-people ties.

Advertisement 1

For Jewish Canadians, this relationship has particular significance because Israel is deeply important to our history, culture and identity. That attachment to an ancestral homeland is not unique to our community. Across Canada, diaspora communities maintain deep connections to the countries from which their families and traditions originate.

Prime Minister Mark Carney captured this sentiment during a visit to Mayo, Ireland, in June, where his paternal grandfather was born. He opened his remarks saying, “it’s great to be back home,” reflecting on thousands of years of Irish history and civilization, and “the county that made my family.”

Carney spoke of the Irish immigrants who helped build Canada and make it a place where faith, language, heritage and tradition are not concessions to citizenship, but expressions of it, calling Canada “a country of kept threads.”

Reflecting on his grandparent’s immigration, the Prime Minister noted that Canada “didn’t require them to become something unrecognizable to themselves in order to belong.” Today, this foundational promise for all Canadians is under threat.

Advertisement 2

Just as Canadians of Irish descent take pride in their heritage and draw inspiration from the birthplace of their ancestors, Jewish Canadians do so with Israel. Yet, this identity that should be welcomed and celebrated is increasingly and uniquely becoming a source of suspicion, discrimination and violence.

A strong Canada-Israel relationship, like Canada’s relationship with Ireland and other countries with which Canadians share deep historical and cultural ties, affirms that Jewish Canadians holding onto this thread of their identity is entirely compatible with full and equal Canadian citizenship. This is perhaps more important now than ever before.

A renewed partnership would also advance the Government of Canada’s objectives internationally in contributing to peace in the Middle East and boosting resilience at home. In a world marked by rupture, Canada is seeking partnerships in trade, energy and security that strengthen our strategic autonomy. Prime Minister Carney has noted that this requires expanding influence in strategically important regions and prioritizing engagement over lecturing from afar – even when dealing with countries with which Canada has profound disagreements.