Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference for the international media at the Government Press office in Jerusalem, Sept. 4 2024.ABIR SULTAN/Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is criticizing Canada for blocking military goods shipments to Israel that could help his country in its war with Hamas.
Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly announced new restrictions on sales of defence equipment to the Israeli government, saying she had suspended about 30 export permits and would also block a deal to send Quebec-made ammunition to the United States for onward export to Israel.
The Department of Global Affairs in a Sept. 11 letter informed General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Repentigny, Que., that it will be required to apply for an export permit for this pending sale, first announced by U.S. defence officials in August.
This is significant because most arms exports to the United States do not require a permit under a long-standing agreement between Ottawa and Washington. The Liberal government, in response to criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war on Hamas, in January stopped approving new permits for the export of military goods to Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu, in a Friday post on X, said it’s unfortunate Ms. Joly took the steps she did.
“Israel appreciates the support of the overwhelming majority of Canadians in our just war against Hamas – an Iranian-backed genocidal terrorist organization in Gaza,” he said using the official X account of the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel.
The Israeli Prime Minister also criticized pro-Palestinian protests across Canada, calling them prejudiced against Jewish people.
“Unfortunately, as antisemitic riots spread across Canadian campuses and cities, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly announced an intention to place an arms embargo on Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu wrote.
He said Canada’s actions will not deter Israel. “With or without such an embargo, Israel will continue fighting for our two nations’ common cause in the war between civilization and barbarism.”
A spokesperson for Ms. Joly insisted Canada has not abandoned Israel.
“Canada remains an ally of the Israeli people and is committed to their lasting security and the security of Israel,” Isabella Orozco-Madison said in a statement. “Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately.”
She said Canada doesn’t believe its policy on arms exports has changed since January when it stopped approving permits for shipments of military gear to Israel.
“All efforts should be focused on a ceasefire. The violence must end.”
Israel was attacked by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 in an assault that left around 1,200 people dead and about 250 taken hostage. It responded with a bombing campaign and siege in Gaza that has so far killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to the Palestinian Health Authority in the territory.
The federal government considers Hamas a terrorist group.
In August, the U.S. Defence Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had approved a US$61.1-million deal to supply Israel with 120-millimetre high-explosive mortar cartridges and that the principal contractor would be General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc. in Quebec.
The Israel embassy in Canada noted the Canadian government talks of supporting Israel’s right to defend itself but then conversely won’t supply it the means to do so.
“Minister Joly’s remarks regarding blocking ammunition sales to Israel are harmful and misguided at a time of war, and are in contradiction with Canada’s position that it has the right and duty to defend itself, pointing out that currently Israel is attacked on seven fronts, all supported, trained and equipped by Iran,” spokesperson Yifah Mivtach Greenvald said in a statement.
“It is all the more disappointing as some of the permits suspended are of items that are purely for defence purposes.”
Figures released by the Department of Global Affairs this year showed that exports of military goods to Israel from Canada rose to $30-million in 2023. That was up from $21.3-million in 2022.