WARMINGTON: Trudeau saying ICC can arrest Netanyahu is music to Hamas supporters' ears

Article content

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was just putting on the record what was already abundantly clear.

Canada is with Hamas.

The key thing Trudeau did with his declaration that Canada would not stand in the way of the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is send the message to Hamas supporters that they have full backing to do what they want.

Of course, they already know that since they can basically take over any space they want, intimidate anybody they want and there won’t be much done about it.

But this approval from the top now makes it official.

When asked Thursday if Canada will honour the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for leading the war in Gaza following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 barbarism on 1,200 Jews and the kidnapping of 250 more, Trudeau gave the answer that had the applause of terror supporters around the world.

“We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts,” Trudeau said. “This is just who we are as Canadians.”

He can speak for himself as to who Canadians are. Many of us were embarrassed by this. Many Canadians were uncomfortable with Canada’s prime minister effectively throwing support for Hamas.

And he doubled down on this position Friday morning on Newstalk 1010 with John Moore, who pressed the PM that this decision does not offer much support as an ally of Israel.

“Canada supports international law and we are one of the founding members of the international court,” Trudeau said, adding “I think one looks at the situation in the Middle East and the levels of destruction and the killing of civilians we’ve see. We need to see an end to this conflict” and “more humanitarian aid flowing.”

While he talked about the releasing of hostages and a two-state solution, it’s obvious Trudeau is not with Israel in this war.

“We are ashamed that Canada would align itself with such a politicized decision,” the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) posted to X. “By doing so, Canada undermines international law, strains its alliance with the U.S., and harms its relationship with Israel.”

B’nai Brith Canada posted to X a meme saying, “Shame on you Justin Trudeau.”

“The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent arrest warrant targeting the leader of the world’s only Jewish state, while it defends itself against unrelenting terrorism, will only embolden the terror groups who continue to destabilize the region and those in Canada who utilize the Court’s decisions to justify their antisemitic conduct,” B’nai Brith wrote.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham got into it, posting on X: “I cannot emphasize enough my strong objection to what the ICC has done to the State of Israel. The ICC is a rogue and politically motivated organization that is trampling on the very concept of the rule of law.”

But Canada’s leader says Canada will follow what this court rules — which is nothing more than sending the message that Canada does not fully back Israel in its fight for its existence.

It’s not first time Trudeau has signalled his lack of support for Israel defending itself against an evil terror group. One that jumps to mind was how fast he condemned the bombing of a Gaza hospital early in the conflict when it turned out it was Hamas rockets that actually hit the building.

Let’s also not forget how other political leaders also don’t hide their views either.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow would go to the opening of an envelope, but missed the flag raising for Israel, the march for Israel and the one-year vigil for the Oct. 7 slaughter. Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish had the position that Hamas supporters could not be stopped from holding a martyr’s vigil at city hall, while old X posts were unearthed where she said it’s “fruitless” to talk with “Zionists.”

All this lack of support from leaders is not sitting well with Jewish Canadians who have been living in fear for the past year. Their schools have been shot into, their businesses vandalized, and their neighbourhoods invaded — quasi-Kristallnacht style mock pogroms reminiscent of 1930s Europe have rocked people’s confidence that they are safe.

And they don’t forget the Liberal government inviting a former Nazi into Parliament to greet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Whether it’s taking over university campuses or seeing swastikas scrawled on posts on sidewalks, it feels like it’s open season on Jews here. What is needed is a pushback. Not a pat on the back. But even Trudeau’s own MPs have not called him out for such a troublesome comment.

While Jewish MP Anthony Housefather posted “the ICC discredits itself by its actions today,” he did not criticize his boss clearing the way for Netanyahu to be arrested in Canada.

Liberal Brampton MP Shafqa Ali said the “independence” of the court must be respected.

And Order of Canada recipient and restauranteur Mohamad Fakih posted to X that Netanyahu should be “condemned to a lifetime in prison.”

Seems Trudeau’s team are OK with this sentiment. The silence of his caucus is deafening but heard loudly by Canadian Jews who understand this all leads to an open road of antisemitism in Canada.

Canada’s opposition Conservative Party, thankfully, provided some voices of reason.

On Rogers with Rob Snow and Toronto 640 with Greg Brady, Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre called Trudeau’s declaring “absolutely ridiculous” and reminded “the prime minister of Israel is a democratically elected leader whose country is responding to an unprovoked invasion, by thousands of well-armed Iranian-funded terrorists who put babies, living babies in ovens, carried out mass rape and other atrocities deliberately targeted at civilians.”

Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman called the arrest warrants “outrageous” and said “Hamas needs to release the hostages, drop their arms and unconditionally surrender,” while adding a Conservative government will “support a democratic ally’s right to defend itself not the false equivalency of the court.”

That will certainly be different than Trudeau’s Liberal government, who will follow the court’s decision and put Netanyahu and his defence minister in handcuffs.

jwarmington@postmedia.com