Prime Minister Stephen Harper inspects the Ceremonial Guard at the National War Memorial during a ceremony to mark the 100th Anniversary of the First World War in Ottawa, Monday August 4, 2014. B’nai Brith Canada chief executive officer Frank Dimant said Friday that he will nominate Mr. Harper for the prestigious prize to recognize the Prime Minister’s “moral clarity” in addressing global challenges.FRED CHARTRAND/The Canadian Press
The head of a prominent Canadian Jewish organization says he plans to nominate Stephen Harper for a Nobel Peace Prize Mr. Harper is a staunch supporter of Israel whose comments on the Middle East have at times put him at odds with other Western leaders.
In a news release issued by B'nai Brith Canada, Mr. Dimant praised the Prime Minister's approach in dealing with major international conflicts.
He said Mr. Harper has demonstrated international leadership and a clear understanding of the differences between those who "seek to do evil" and their victims.
"More than any other individual, he has consistently spoken out with resolve regarding the safety of people under threat – such as opposing Russian aggression and annexation of Ukrainian territory – and has worked to ensure that other world leaders truly understand [the] threat of Islamic terrorism facing us today," Mr. Dimant said.
The Conservative government has said that its outspoken approach is part of a "principled" foreign policy that means it is unafraid to choose sides in conflicts.
Critics, including some former Canadian diplomats, have countered that the Conservative government's outspoken approach often involves more rhetoric than action and have said that it could limit Canada's ability to play a constructive role in resolving global conflicts.
This summer, when the United States and others criticized Israel's shelling of a United Nations school in Gaza, the federal government continued to blame Hamas alone, saying the militant organization was solely responsible for the continuing violence in the region.
University professors are on the list of individuals permitted to submit nominations to the Nobel Foundation.