Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen will arrive today in Israel on an official four day visit. This is the first visit Harper has made to Israel and the Middle East in general since becoming Prime Minister in 2006. The last time a Canadian Prime Minister visited Israel was in 2000.
The Prime Minister, Canada’s first evangelical Christian leader in 50 years, is a long recognized ally and friend of the State of Israel. Harper announced his visit to Israel last December in a speech he gave at the annual Jewish National Fund gala held in Toronto. Referring to Israel as “a light of freedom and democracy in what is otherwise a region of darkness,” the Prime Minister’s visit is being welcomed with excitement in Israel.
Prime Minister Harper has always been a staunch, unapologetic supporter of Israel. Every Israeli military campaign since 2006 has been openly supported by Harper. He was the first Western leader to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority in 2006. Harper also commanded the Canadian U.N. delegation to withdraw from the Durban II conferences, calling it a “scapegoat of the Jewish people.”
However, critics agree that Harper’s staunch support of the Jewish state is having a negative impact on Canadian politics and foreign relations. In 2010, for the first time, Canada failed to gain a seat at the U.N. Security Council. Some attribute this failure to Harper’s foreign policy decisions regarding Israel.
The Prime Minister and his wife will be arriving with a delegation of over 200 people including journalists, business people, and various members of Canadian government. The itinerary for the four day visit is jam packed with both social and political events.
Upon arriving to Israel, the Harpers will be welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. The Netanyahus will host the Harpers for a private dinner later in the evening at the official Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem.
On Monday, January 20th, Prime Minister Harper will address the Israeli Knesset, the first ever Canadian Prime Minister to do so. On Tuesday, January 21st, Harper will meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres and other governmental officials. In the afternoon, the Harper’s will be accompanied by Sara Netanyahu to a visit to Yad Vashem. In the evening, an official state dinner will take place honoring the Harper’s.
On Wednesday, January 22nd, the Harpers will tour Christian holy sites in northern Israel. In the evening, Prime Minister Harper will receive an honorary doctorate from Tel Aviv University and meet with students.
According to the official website of Prime Minister Harper, the purpose of the visit is to “promote commercial relations, advance peace and security, and reinforce the principles of democracy and good governance in the region.” Aside from meeting with Israeli leaders, harper will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, His Majesty King Abdullah II, and Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Prime Minister Netanyahu warmly welcomes the arrival of Prime Minister Harper: “Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a great friend of the State of Israel. He has strongly opposed against attempts to delegitimize the State of Israel and has taken a praiseworthy moral stand against these attempts. I welcome his arrival together with his wife and the members of his delegation. We will work together to further enhance the important relations between our two countries.”
