Israel, Canada and struggles for decolonization | rabble.ca

13.7.14

Israel, Canada and struggles for decolonization | rabble.ca: It is no coincidence then that the Canadian government, reflecting its own roots in settler-colonialism, fervently declares support for Israel. Prime Minister Harper pronounced Canada "Israel's best friend" and has vowed to support Israel "whatever the cost." Canada was the first country -- even before Israel -- to boycott and vilify the government of Hamas in 2006.

Canada has also strengthened economic ties with Israel; under the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, bilateral trade has more than tripled. This has further entwined Canada in the economic normalization of the Israeli occupation. In addition, the two states have signed the Canada-Israel Public Security Partnership, to supposedly ward off "common threats" to "border security, illegal immigration, and terrorist financing." In the climate of the War on Terror, this is a pretext to intensify torture, racial and religious profiling, incarcerations, deportations and surveillance.