Baird defends meeting with Livni in east Jerusalem

John Baird

The Palestinian Authority summoned Canada’s envoy in Ramallah for reprimand over the weekend in response to Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird’s decision to meet Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni at her office in east Jerusalem.

The Palestinians objected to Canada breaking a longstanding tradition of diplomats not meeting Israeli officials in the eastern part of the city, which the Palestinians claim as their capital, saying it legitimizes Israel’s unrecognized claims to sovereignty there.

Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat also sent a strongly worded letter to Baird last Friday in which he said the meeting amounted to Canada’s “diplomatic recognition of the situation created by the attempted annexation of our capital is a flagrant violation of international law."

Baird’s meeting with Livni came during a visit to Israel from April 6 to 9 to reaffirm the friendship between the two nations. It was part of a broader Middle East trip that included Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, and the West Bank.

Baird also visited the Golan Heights while in the region.

The subject of his meeting with Livni was raised earlier last week when Baird, speaking to reporters in a conference call April 11 while attending G8 meetings in London, was asked why he broke what Palestinian officials called “the taboo” on foreign diplomats visiting east Jerusalem.

Baird shrugged off the question, responding that all his meetings with Israeli and PA representatives aimed to help further the peace process.

“I’m just not interested in getting into these semantic arguments about whether you have a meeting with one person on one side of the street it’s OK, if you have a meeting on the other side of the street it’s not,” he said.

“We’re focused on trying to tackle the difficult serious challenges: that’s the security for Israelis in any end to the conflict and the legitimate aspirations for a state from those… in the Palestinian side. And where I had coffee with Tzipi Livni is I think irrelevant to that and it doesn’t signal a change in Canadian foreign policy.”

Overall, the foreign affairs department called the minister’s visit to Israel “warm and constructive.”

In Baird’s meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, talks revolved around how Canada could support Israeli security concerns in the region as well as how both countries could expand existing economic and cultural ties.

In a statement, Baird’s office said his April 9 meeting with Netanyahu touched on many issues, including Iran’s continuing nuclear program and its sponsorship of international terrorism, the crisis in Syria, renewed peace talks with the Palestinians and “the value of a constructive Turkey-Israel relationship.”

Netanyahu also asked Baird to consider how Canada might take more of a role in “revitalizing” peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. 

The two politicians also spoke about continued co-operation on energy issues. Israel and Canada jointly announced the creation of the Canada-Israel Energy Science and Technology Fund last October in light of the Jewish state’s newfound massive offshore natural gas and oil reserves.

The fund is supposed to “spur the development of innovative energy technologies and processes that enable the responsible development of unconventional oil and gas resources, including commercial applications that address shared environmental challenges,” Baird’s office said.

It’s also designed to strengthen co-operation in areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency and prompt investment from both countries.

According to the ministry, the fund is expected to “generate $20 to $40 million in collaborative research and development [projects] over the next three years. Two successful Canadian research and development workshops took place [last month] and brought together leading Canadian and Israeli stakeholders to identify potential partnering opportunities. The first call for proposals is expected later [this month].”

Canada and Israel are also planning to establish what is being called a “Strategic Partnership Agreement,” described by the ministry as “a work plan which will provide both countries concrete benchmarks to further deepen the bilateral relationship.”

Speaking to Israeli media on April 8, Baird said Canada supports Israel’s right to defend itself from its enemies.

Referring to Iran specifically in an interview with Israel’s Channel 10 news, he said if Israel decides to strike unilaterally at Iran, the Iranians will only have themselves to blame, while stressing that Canada does not support unilateral Israeli military action to thwart Tehran’s rogue nuclear program.

“Iran is clearly doing all it can to waste time” in negotiations, Baird said.

“Iran is not going to get rewarded for just showing up at the negotiating table,” he added. “Iran represents the biggest threat to international peace and security in the world today, and the world should respond with that in mind.”

In welcoming Baird to Israel, Peres said his country considers Canada and its current government to be “among our closest friends and I want to thank you for an outstanding friendship which is based not only on interests but on profound values. We appreciate the ongoing support of the Canadian government, and the prime minster. On all occasions, in all domains and with every opportunity your government took a clear and courageous position including a very clear position vis-à-vis the greatest danger of our time, Iran."

He added: “Thank you for what you are, what you represent and the deep friendship to Israel."

Peres also praised the Canadian Jewish community, characterizing it as “exceedingly warm” toward Israel.

Baird also met with Palestinian leadership to determine Canada’s humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Canada’s five-year, $300-million aid package to the PA expired as of April 1. Administration of the funding transferred to the department of foreign affairs from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in late March.

Baird said he had urged PA President Mahmoud Abbas to return to peace talks with Israel without preconditions, but to no avail, adding that both sides should avoid unilateral actions that could complicate peace efforts.

The minister met with Abbas, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad (who has since resigned) and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki on April 6.

He told the PA that while Canada continues to “disagree” with the Palestinian leadership’s strategy of a “unilateral path” toward the establishment of its own state, Ottawa continues its support for “security and economic improvements made in recent years and my desire to continue meaningful engagement with the Palestinian Authority.”

“Canada committed $300 million over five years with a focus on assisting security and development in the West Bank,” Baird said in an April 6 statement. “Some of the projects are still underway, and I assured Palestinian leaders that we will see our existing commitments through.”

As for future potential investments, Baird’s spokesperson Chris Day said the minister visited Ramallah to “hear directly from the PA” about its priorities.

“The minister is reflecting on what he heard and will consult his cabinet colleagues… on next steps upon his return to Ottawa,” Day said.

With files from TimesOfIsrael.com