Few heads of government have taken as pro Israel a stance as Canada´s Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The exceedingly warm relationship between Israel and Canada is reflected in the high level exchange visits between the two countries. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman visited Canada last September and this year Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak each visited Canada while Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty visited Israel at the end of January to discuss the Middle East peace process, regional security and economic cooperation.

To add to the impetus of the strong relationship, President Shimon Peres leaves on Sunday for a five day state visit to Canada, travelling to Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. Baird will be on hand to greet Peres when he arrives in Ottawa in the pre-dawn hours between Sunday and Monday. Later on Monday morning, Peres will be honored by a full-blown welcome reception hosted by Canada´s Governor General David Lloyd Johnston, and will be given a second welcome reception at Parliament House by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The key topic in all of the discussions that Peres will have with political figures will be the grave threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the world. He will also discuss the Arab spring and its possible effects on the region as well as on relations between Israel and her neighbors.

In addition to drumming up greater support for sanctions against Iran, Peres will focus on enhancing the already excellent relationship between Israel and Canada through increased diplomatic, scientific and economic cooperation.

Israel is extremely appreciative of the pro-Israel stance taken by Canada in international forums, and Peres will make a point of personally voicing Israel´s gratitude for these ongoing demonstrations of friendship.

On Thursday morning Peres will fly to Montreal where he will meet with the Jewish community in the famous Shaar Hashamayim synagogue, the oldest and largest synagogue in Canada which dates back to 1846. He will then have a working meeting with Premier Charest after which he will board the return flight to Israel.

Contrary to his usual custom, Peres will not be flying El Al. For budgetary reasons, he will be flown to and from Canada via Air Canada. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 05/06/12)