President of Israel makes symbolic trip to Canada to discuss trade and security
May 7, 2012
Israeli president Shimon Peres arrived in Canada last night to discuss a few international matters with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. According to CTV, the leaders will be discussing security as well as trade, as there are growing tensions between Israel and neighboring Iran. Both Canada and Israel are also struggling to recover from the global recession. Peres' visit comes just a few short months after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Canadian leaders during a heightened period of nuclear threat from Iran. However, the Globe and Mail reports this visit is more about strengthening international relations and is a symbolic visit rather than a political one.
"Israel has no greater friend in the world today that Canada," Canada's foreign affairs minister John Baird during a speech in Washington, D.C., according to The Vancouver Sun. "Our strong support for Israel is not about politics at home, and certainly not about winning popularity contests at the United Nations. Canada certainly has the scars to show for it. It's about values."
The Israeli president is also expected to meet with Governor-General David Johnston and Leader of the Opposition Thomas Mulcair. Those who want to find out more about Peres' visit with Canadian leaders can make calls to Canada with phone cards to ask their friends for the latest news.