It's called the "Israel Allies Caucus" and I hope I'm not just the last person to learn of it.
As I understand it, the IAC is a body Harper set up so that Canadian parliamentarians could proclaim their devotion to Israel and their fealty to the Knesset. It's supposed to be the twin of the "Christian Allies Caucus" established earlier in Israel's Knesset.
This commentary appeared on February 4, 2007 in the Jerusalem Post:
The launching of the Canadian parliamentary lobby, which is based on the formation of the Knesset's "Christian Allies Caucus" three years ago, comes less than six months after a similar lobby was established in the US Congress.
As I understand it, the IAC is a body Harper set up so that Canadian parliamentarians could proclaim their devotion to Israel and their fealty to the Knesset. It's supposed to be the twin of the "Christian Allies Caucus" established earlier in Israel's Knesset.
This commentary appeared on February 4, 2007 in the Jerusalem Post:
The launching of the Canadian parliamentary lobby, which is based on the formation of the Knesset's "Christian Allies Caucus" three years ago, comes less than six months after a similar lobby was established in the US Congress.
The establishment of the new pro-Israel lobby will be officially announced in Ottawa on Tuesday in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canadian and Israeli parliamentarians, including MK Benny Elon (National Union-National Religious Party) MK Orit Noked (Labor) and MK Ran Cohen (Meretz), as well as members of the Canadian-Israel Friendship League.
The event comes at a time of burgeoning relations between Israel and the largely supportive evangelical Christian community around the world.
"The launching of the Canadian Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus is a sign of things to come," said Josh Reinstein, director of the Knesset's Christian Allies Caucus in an interview from Canada on Sunday.
"We hope that one day every parliament and government around the world will form a sister caucus to the Knesset's Christian Allies Caucus which will mobilize support for Israel around the world and promote Judeo-Christian values."
The Canadian "Israel Allies Caucus" is said to be a vehicle to bond Christian fundamentalists in Canada's parliament to Israel.
Does anyone know what our parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus has been up to and just which MPs or Senators have signed on to it?
And, please, don't give me any nonsense about anti-Semitism. If I learn of an organization in which Canadian parliamentarians are entering into religious alliances with other countries, I'll be sure to bring that up too.
This is the 1st I've heard of this organization, IAC, set up by Harper. I'm astounded.
ReplyDeleteWhen did you come across this & how, MoS? Like you I want to know which MP's, & any others in govt., are members of this group.
Thanks for the catch!
this guyleft some comments on my blog about lobby thing and I cut him right off because I felt he was too radical and I still feel the same way. He is obsessed with this lobby stuff. However, this one sided lobby of the parliament is wrong. Harper has become totally bushiest.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes - those fundies and their devotion to Israel and their insane hope for the coming of End Times ...
ReplyDeleteHowever, a PM has no right to involve his country in something like this.
Or is this simply the final nail in our shackles put on our country with regards to foreign policy in the Middle East?
And who are the slavemaster then - the US or the Israel lobby?
Both?
"Competence" indeed, Mr.Harper.
Bravo, you poor excuse for a PM.
I found a vague mention of this in the comments section of a Toronto Star story this morning. I thought it had to be some nutjob conspiracy fantasy but I did a bit of searching and found out it was true. It even made the Jerusalem Post, the mainstream centre-right Israeli newspaper.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of anything like this, evangelical Canadian parliamentarians establishing their own, pro-Israel lobby.
I was so astonished I wondered whether this wasn't just something only I didn't know about - the sort of thing that happens to all of us every now and then.
Here's a link to some information on what would be, I guess, the US equivalent (?) ...
ReplyDeleteMany Canadian conservative evangelicals subscribe to the teachings of the churches people usually associate with the worship of the American regional god, Jesus of Dixie. By using the book of Revelations like a deck of tarot cards their pastors have determined that God requires the ethnic cleansing of the remaining Palestinians from Palestine, and their replacement by Jews, as a condition of the second coming. They view modern Israel as God's agent in carrying out this work.
ReplyDeleteIf this seems kooky, recall that the same Southern Baptist theologians were preaching fifty years ago that racial segregation was ordained by God, and one hundred and fifty years ago that slavery was sanctioned by the bible. Jesus of Dixie has always been a racist god. After he finishes with the Palestinians, his next step is the forced conversion of the Jews.
Doz
Doz, Jeebus of Dixie! That's great, love it.
ReplyDelete