Americas

Americas

Canadian PM refuses to criticize Israel's settlement policy

21 January 2014 21:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday refused to criticize Israel over its construction of settlements in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank, APA reports.

Harper, who has been in Israel since Sunday and is considered a staunch supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, stated his views at a joint press conference with the Israeli leader in Jerusalem.

Whereas other members of the international community denounced the Jewish state's policies, Harper stressed that Canada will not condemn Israel over its construction in the settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, lands Israel annexed during the 1967 Mideast War.

"I'm not here to single out Israel for criticism, there are more than enough to do that, they don't need me," he said at the press conference.

The Canadian prime minister added he supported and believed in peace between Israel and the Palestinians and that he supports the Palestinian Authority as well.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu used the press conference to send a message to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, who are accused of targeting southern Israel with rocket attacks. "If they forgot the lesson they will learn it again in a harsh way."

"We have a very clear policy," Netanyahu said. "We thwart militant attacks when we recognize them in the making, and we react aggressively against those who hurt us."

In November 2012, Israel launched Operation Pillar of Defense, a retributive military campaign against Gaza, which was followed by nearly a year of relative truce between Israel and the Hamas- ruled Gaza Strip.

However, in recent weeks, a number of missiles were launched from Gaza toward southern Israel, which were answered with airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force.

On Monday, Harper gave a speech in front of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) in which he expressed Canada's support for Israel and slammed those who criticized it, specifically over its settlement policy.

Harper met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday afternoon and on Tuesday met with President Shimon Peres. On Wednesday, he will conclude his visit by meeting with Israeli students and receiving an honorary doctorate from the Tel Aviv University.