OTTAWA—Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told visiting Israeli Preisenet Reuven Rivlin that ‘’we work together to combat hatred and anti-Semitism around the world, including through the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and the international campaign against anti-Semitism.’’
He adeed, ‘’Our government will continue to speak out in the strongest possible terms against BDS and Israeli Apartheid Week, which hold Israel to completely different standards to any other country in the world.’’
Trudeau made the remarks Monday at a state luncheon hosted in honor of President Rivlin.
Following the dinner, the president laid a wreath at the Holocaust memorial in Ottawa, accompanied by the Prime Minister.
Rivlin praised Trudeau for standing up to antisemitism and racism in all its forms, and for the close relations between Israel and Canada, which he said were based on shared values and concerns.
He thanked him for Canada’s support for Israel in the international arena and expressed his expectation that Canada would oppose any unilateral Palestinian moves against Israel and discrimination of Israel in international organizations.
Earlier, in a meeting the two leaders discussed the Iranian question and the president noted with satisfaction the decision by the Canadian parliament to freeze its relations with Iran and to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.
“Iran is leading the establishment of a Shi’ite axis in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and its actions are exacerbating Sunni-Shi’ite tensions. This could lead to regional escalation and threaten the whole world,” said Rivlin.
‘’The only way to halt Iran’s plans is by concerted international pressure and targeted military action whenever needed,’’ he added. He also noted that, in addition to these actions, Iran’s economic freedom of action must be limited and that funding for Iran should be blocked due to its support for terrorism.