Photo: Spencer Colby The Canadian Press “Israel must be able to prevent Iran from using nuclear weapons, if necessary, which means proactively striking nuclear sites and oil facilities to cut off funding to the terrorist regime,” Pierre Poilievre said.
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre supports the idea of an Israeli response that would take the form of a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, a position he shares with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“If Israel were to prevent the unstable, genocidal, theocratic government [of Iran] from acquiring nuclear weapons, I believe that would be a gift from the Jewish state to humanity,” Poilievre told reporters Tuesday.
The leader of the official opposition had first formulated this position the day before, in a long speech delivered during an event commemorating the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel, in front of the Jewish community of Ottawa. Mr. Poilievre was received much warmer than the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
“Israel must be able to prevent the use of nuclear weapons by Iran, if necessary, which means proactively striking nuclear sites and oil installations to cut off funding to the terrorist regime,” chanted the conservative politician.
Last Tuesday, Iran sent hundreds of missiles towards Israel to avenge the deaths of the leaders of Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas. Israeli army says it is preparing its response.
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Oil strikes
On Monday, Canada’s Minister of National Defence Bill Blair called the idea that Israel could destroy oil production sites “appropriate.” “Israel has every right to defend itself and take the actions that are necessary to diminish Iran’s ability [to attack it],” he said in a press scrum. No other Canadian representative had gone so far before him.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has been rather cautious on this subject. She stated last Wednesday that Israel’s retaliation should not result in “a generalized war,” but without drawing a red line. As for how far this response could go, according to Canada, she said that this was “the big question.”
In the United States, a country in the midst of a presidential campaign, President Joe Biden recently mentioned discussions with Israel concerning strikes on Iranian oil sites, while saying that he advised against this option.
On the contrary, the Republican candidate for the White House, former President Donald Trump, raised the need for Israel to go after Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to hit? ? That’s the biggest risk we face!” ” Mr. Trump said mockingly of his Democratic opponent.
Debates on the conflict
Bloc Québécois foreign affairs critic Stéphane Bergeron called Pierre Poilievre's approval of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities “extremely dangerous in the current context.”
Minister Mélanie Joly did not answer questions on the subject on Tuesday. Instead, she delivered a lengthy denunciation of Pierre Poilievre's attacks on her. He notably suggested that the rise in anti-Semitism in Canada was the fault of his government.
In the House the day before, the Conservative leader asked the minister to condemn all anti-Semitic remarks or those calling for the destruction of Israel that were made during recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations, without success.
“The police should arrest those who call for violence, even if these people use religion as their defence,” said the Conservative leader. He did not elaborate further on his thoughts regarding the Bloc Québécois’ plan to remove the religious exception included in the Criminal Code chapter on hate speech.