QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
Conflict in Gaza Strip
March 21, 2024
Minister, we’ve all seen the picture of you holding hands with Mahmoud Abbas, an anti-Semite and Holocaust denier. He has also denied the horrific, evil acts of October 7 and created a fund that pays the families of terrorists who killed Jews — payments he says he will never stop. I heard your interview with CJN in which you said you accompanied Minister Joly to that meeting because you felt it was important for a Jewish person to be at the table and for a Jewish voice to be heard. You also claimed that it’s protocol to take a photograph while shaking hands.
Minister, I’ve been to a few of these meetings. It’s not protocol to hold hands, which is what you did. Perhaps that’s why you didn’t post the photo yourself on any of your own social media sites.
My question is this: Did you ever consider how this would impact the families of Canadians killed or kidnapped on October 7? Do you think that they felt it was in their interests when you voted in favour of Monday night’s motion?
Senator, I join you in this chamber and I stand in my chamber as a proud Israeli Canadian and Jewish Canadian who has the privilege to serve Canadians in my community. I’ve also been involved in the peace-building community in Israel and internationally for close to three decades.
My belief — and this is Canada’s foreign policy — is that a two-state solution is the only way that Israelis will live in a safe and secure environment alongside Palestinians. My voice at those tables was to remind the Palestinian Authority that they have accountability to the Jewish people, Israelis and diaspora communities to not allow Hamas to be part of their future governance, to ensure that violence and hate will be no part of their administration as they rule the West Bank and eventually some kind of structure in the rebuilding of Gaza. I stand in the knowledge that my role in this is important and I have an important voice in this process.
Minister, with all due respect, you were hand in hand with a gentleman, Mr. Abbas, who doesn’t recognize a two-state solution.
Your photo last week reminds me of another shameful incident four years ago. Just weeks after Flight PS752 was shot down killing dozens of Canadians, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met the Iranian foreign affairs minister and not only shook his hand but also bowed his head to him.
Why do you and your government worry more about not offending these mad tyrants than you do about offending our Canadian victims?
Senator, respectfully, I will kindly remind you that both former foreign affairs minister Baird in his capacity, former prime minister Stephen Harper and currently Antony Blinken, and others, meet with the Palestinian Authority regularly. This is the process by which we work toward an alternate reality of safety and security for Israelis and ensure that a two-state solution continues to be the goal not just for Israel but something that the international community is committed to ensuring for safety for the Jewish state.
I take offence to your comments. As a Jewish Canadian and as an Israeli Canadian who is dedicated to ensuring the safety of my family and many others in the region, I do believe that I have an opinion to share here. Thank you.
Prime Minister Harper and former Minister Baird always stood solid and hard when it came to dealing with tyranny. Whenever they met them in these bilateral meetings, they made it clear where Canada stood.
Minister, there seems to be some confusion over Minister Joly’s announcement of any arms embargo against Israel as a result of Monday’s motion. Minister Joly said on Tuesday that Canada suspending military exports to Israel was in response to the —
