Former PM Harper defends Israel at Winnipeg event

Former prime minister Stephen Harper forcefully defended Israel’s strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar, rejecting the claim it violated international law.

Before a packed crowd at the Fort Garry Hotel on Wednesday night, he argued the attack on Tuesday was justified because Qatar does not recognize Israel as a sovereign state.

“The reality is Qatar does not recognize Israel and Israel doesn’t recognize Qatar. They are actually outside that framework,” Harper said.

“And to be blunt, the Qataris have no business providing a public headquarters for Hamas on their territory,” the 66-year-old declared, drawing loud applause.

Israel struck the headquarters of Hamas’ political leadership as the group gathered to consider a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The strike on the territory of a U.S. ally marked an escalation and threatened talks aimed at winding down the war and freeing hostages. Hamas said its top leaders survived, but that five lower-level members were killed.

Harper, who was prime minister from 2006 to 2015, was the guest of honour at a B’nai Brith Canada gala to mark the 150th anniversary of the country’s oldest independent Jewish human rights organization.

At a fireside chat with media personality Ben Mulroney, Harper reiterated his long-standing defence of Israel and his belief that its enemies are Canada’s enemies as well.

“If you don’t get that as a leader of a country, I don’t know what you understand about international affairs,” he said. “We just have to keep driving this home.”

Harper, who calls Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a close personal friend, has long been one of Israel’s staunchest allies.

In 2014, he became the first Canadian prime minister to address the Knesset, in which he told Israel’s parliament that, “through fire and water, Canada will stand with you,” and declared that “Canada supports Israel, fundamentally, because it is right to do so.”

At an event in Quebec last year, Harper recalled his “very pro-Jewish” upbringing: “Israel is a friend and ally to this country and the people who hate Israel, hate this country, too,” he said. He repeated that message on Wednesday.

He argued most criticism of Israel comes from those opposed to its existence, calling that “the essence of antisemitism” because Israel is the world’s only Jewish state.

Harper said he’s concerned about the rise of antisemitism.

“We have to tackle what’s driving it,” he said, blaming both the far-right, which views Jews as “inferior,” and the far-left, which sees them as “oppressors.”

Academic institutions, he said, have become fertile ground for the latter view, noting that many of those institutions are largely funded by the public.

“This should just not be acceptable,” Harper said.

As for how the war in Gaza should end, Harper was blunt.

“The bad guys who started, and are losing, should surrender,” he said. “Only Israel, when it’s the winner, is called upon to surrender. It’s just ridiculous.”

Touching on the fatal shooting of controversial Conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier at a Utah college campus Wednesday, Harper urged Canada to use its voice to call for cooler heads to prevail.

“You can have vigorous arguments without ostracization, cancellation and, ultimately, assassination,” he said. “This is still the most important country in the world, certainly in the free and democratic world. We just need to raise our voices and say, ‘stop,’ because this is getting really scary.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca