Canada says Israel's security is the most important issue in the long-running conflict with the Palestinians, while criticizing Tel Aviv's settlement activities. Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on Monday insisted that Israel has the right "to defend itself and to live in peace and security with its neighbors." "Canada believes that Israel's security, in the face of the continued threats from certain elements within the region, is a predominant consideration in moving toward peace in the region," he said after meeting his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman. Tel Aviv has repeatedly said that any peace plan to end the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict must consider Israel's security top priority. The Canadian Foreign Minister -- whose country supports the two-state solution-- however, expressed dismay over Israel's settlement activities in the West Bank, calling it an obstacle to peace. It is not the first time that Canada expresses its full support for Israel; during Tel Aviv's onslaught on the Gaza Strip, Ottawa's staunch support for Israel caused uproar at the United Nations human rights body in Geneva. The United Nations Human Rights Council in late January called on Israel to end its "grave violations" in the occupied Palestinian territory and called for immediate international action to force Israel to allow fuel, food, medicine and other essential items to be sent into the Gaza Strip. The UN statement passed 30 to 1, with 15 countries abstaining. Canada was the only country to object to the call, which also urged Tel Aviv to reopen the border-crossings, sealed since Hamas began governing Gaza in June 2007. Israel's three-week onslaught on Gaza in December and January left nearly 1,400 Palestinians dead. A two-year long blockade has also made reconstruction impossible, as the entry of almost all building materials are prohibited by Israel.
Canada says Israel's security is the most important issue in the long-running conflict with the Palestinians, while criticizing Tel Aviv's settlement activities. Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on Monday insisted that Israel has the right "to defend itself and to live in peace and security with its neighbors." "Canada believes that Israel's security, in the face of the continued threats from certain elements within the region, is a predominant consideration in moving toward peace in the region," he said after meeting his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman. Tel Aviv has repeatedly said that any peace plan to end the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict must consider Israel's security top priority. The Canadian Foreign Minister -- whose country supports the two-state solution-- however, expressed dismay over Israel's settlement activities in the West Bank, calling it an obstacle to peace. It is not the first time that Canada expresses its full support for Israel; during Tel Aviv's onslaught on the Gaza Strip, Ottawa's staunch support for Israel caused uproar at the United Nations human rights body in Geneva. The United Nations Human Rights Council in late January called on Israel to end its "grave violations" in the occupied Palestinian territory and called for immediate international action to force Israel to allow fuel, food, medicine and other essential items to be sent into the Gaza Strip. The UN statement passed 30 to 1, with 15 countries abstaining. Canada was the only country to object to the call, which also urged Tel Aviv to reopen the border-crossings, sealed since Hamas began governing Gaza in June 2007. Israel's three-week onslaught on Gaza in December and January left nearly 1,400 Palestinians dead. A two-year long blockade has also made reconstruction impossible, as the entry of almost all building materials are prohibited by Israel.
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