Avi Benlolo: I sat down to ask Stephen Harper, ‘What happened to Canada’?

With a crowd gathered inside, and pro-Hamas demonstrators outside attempting to disrupt the event, The Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI) proudly hosted a sold-out evening to honour former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper with the Defender of Israel Award. In an atmosphere charged with gratitude, AGPI’s honorary chair, Mr. Paul Godfrey, warmly introduced Harper, emphasizing his lasting impact on Canada-Israel relations and his unwavering dedication to democracy in an ever-shifting world.

The evening drew an impressive crowd of supporters — from business leaders and philanthropists to diplomats and interfaith figures — all united in their commitment to freedom and Canadian unity in the face of mounting antisemitism. In addition to honouring Stephen Harper, AGPI presented its inaugural Defender of Israel Media Award to Rob Roberts, editor-in-chief of the National Post, recognizing his journalistic courage. And in a deeply moving moment, we awarded the Lion of Judah to master sergeant Remo El-Hozayel for his bravery in rescuing hundreds from the chaos of October 7, a story of heroism that brought the room to its feet in applause.

When I sat down with Harper for our fireside chat, I felt as if I were speaking with not only a respected statesman, but also a friend to Israel and to all those who believe in justice. We spoke candidly about global challenges, Canada’s shifting stance on Israel, and the troubling surge of antisemitism that is often left unchallenged. I shared with him the questions I’m often asked when I travel, especially, “What happened to Canada?” These days, there’s a sense of disappointment, even disillusionment, in how Canada is perceived. Harper agreed, saying that this disconnect stems from Canada’s leaders not speaking out against the influences that threaten our unity. “We must stop cultivating Jihadists, antisemites, Khalistanis, Tamil Tigers, and other divisive groups. When it comes to our immigration system, we are going to have to ask ourselves some hard questions about how we screen people.”

We agreed that while most Canadians abhor divisive ideologies, we must be vigilant about bringing in people who share our values. “We cannot start importing age-old hatreds onto our streets,” Harper said firmly. “We need to do something about this — we cannot let it continue.”

As the conversation turned to the polarizing protests outside the event, I expressed my confusion. “The world feels upside down. How is it possible that people don’t understand? How can they be protesting in support of Hamas after the atrocities of October 7?” Harper’s response struck me profoundly. “Go see a pro-Israel demonstration and then go see a pro-Hamas demonstration,” he said. “The difference is that only at the Israeli demonstration will they be carrying the Canadian flag. If you see a Canadian flag at the other group, they’ll be burning it. And that’s all you need to know about why Canada should be supporting Israel — they are our friends, and the other side is not. It’s that simple.”

He also shared his concern that the larger issue lies with the rising normalization of antisemitism in Canada. “This has gone way too far,” he warned, with particular criticism for academia and the media, which he believes have fueled these trends. “We’ve got to clean this up,” he said, urging all Canadians to take action against these damaging currents.

As our conversation turned to the recent U.S. election, I asked whether he felt that Donald Trump’s resurgence signified a broader backlash against “wokeism” and the extremism seen on campuses. “I think there is a backlash, especially in the United States,” he noted. “There was a lot of concern in the press about the tenor of pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas protests. I think that concern did indeed help the Republican Party.” Harper emphasized the importance of defending Israel as a defense of democratic values, cautioning that “if we abandon Israel on the front lines, those threats will only grow closer to us. It’s in our vital national interest to support Israel.”

Our discussion naturally led to Iran’s role in fostering instability, which he described as “the head of the snake.” He noted that the incoming U.S. administration understands the issue at hand is not just with Iran’s proxies, but with Iran itself. “Without Iran, we don’t have any of these fights,” he observed, stressing the urgency of addressing Iran’s influence.

I also had to ask the question on many Canadians’ minds: why didn’t Canada follow the U.S. in moving its embassy to Jerusalem? Harper shared that, during his tenure, significant security concerns would have made the move challenging. But he admitted that when the U.S. made the decision, “that was one of the few moments I wished I’d been back in office. I would have stood with President Trump as part of that announcement, doing the same thing.” He voiced his hope that Canada’s next government would make the move. “There is no logical reason why the Canadian embassy — or any embassy— should not be in Western Jerusalem,” he said with conviction.

In one of the most striking moments of our talk, Harper addressed the growing confusion over antisemitism and anti-Zionism. “Being against a particular Israeli policy isn’t antisemitic,” he explained, “but being against the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish state is unquestionably and unambiguously antisemitic.” He went on to add, “Saying things like ‘from the river to the sea’ or calling Israelis ‘settler-colonists’ — that’s genocidal antisemitism.” He expressed his abhorrence that any mainstream politician in Canada would tolerate this kind of language. “There is no distinction between that kind of anti-zionism and antisemitism.” And on Israel’s right to defend itself, he was equally resolute: “If you believe in Israel’s right to exist and the right of its people to live in security, then you have to believe in its right to take military action against those who threaten its existence.”

In his closing remarks, Harper shared a heartfelt message of hope. “The Jewish community has been through distressing times before, and every time, it has survived and reached even greater heights. Israel has become one of the most phenomenally successful stories in human history by every single dimension….Fight hard, retain faith, and I believe that in the long term, things will be better than ever for the Jewish people, for the State of Israel, and for western democracies being challenged by terrible forces.”

Leaving the event, our audience felt a renewed sense of purpose. Harper’s words offered not only a rallying cry for Israel’s defenders, but also a reminder of the hope and resilience that has sustained the Jewish people through centuries of adversity. He reminded us all that standing firm, speaking out, and holding fast to our principles is the most powerful strategy we have against the forces that seek to divide us.

Avi Benlolo is the founder and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.

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