Canada-Israel: 'There Is Not A Government on the Planet Today More Supportive'

Baird Says Canada Is A Better Friend of Israel Than the United States Is

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/baird-says-canada-i...

"Canada is a better and stronger friend of Israel than the United States is, says Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird...

Baird offered that and other musings in a sweeping interview with the Jerusalem Post newspaper Friday that capped a Middle East trip highlighted by his unabashed support of Israel in the conflict with the Palestinians..

'I think the US is a good friend too. I like to think we are better,' says Baird. 'A stronger friend.' NDP foreign affairs critic Helen Laverdiere said her party is in total agreement 'that we should support the Israelis, their right to existence, their right to live in peace.' But she said Baird's remarks this week reinforce her view that the government is 'biased too much' towards Israel..

In a preable to the interview, a Jerusalem Post scribe said Baird likes Israel 'a lot' and that makes him no different than Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

'Since Stephen Harper became the country's prime minister in 2006, Canada went from being a middle-of-the-road friend of Israel - somewhere between the US and the European Union - to setting the gold standard in support of the Jewish state,' wrote journalist Herb Keinon.

There is not a government on the planet today more supportive of Israel than Harper's Canada. And the love runs both ways."