Canada government to send 'tough message' to Israel as a 'good friend'

OTTAWA, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Canada's new Liberal government
said on Monday it was delivering a "tough message" to Israel as
a good friend after expressing concern about Israeli-Palestinian
violence, Israeli settlements and unilateral Palestinian moves.
The statement came a day after Foreign Minister Stephane
Dion was criticized for saying Palestinian initiatives toward
statehood in international forums and continued Israeli
settlements were unhelpful.
"We're steadfast allies and good friends, and good friends
can occasionally deliver tough messages, but it's by no means to
suggest that we're somehow retreating from any kind of support
of Israel," said Joe Pickerill, Dion's spokesman.
Dion on Sunday had issued a statement expressing concern
about the Israeli conflict, sparking charges by the Conservative
opposition that the Liberal government was being unfairly
critical of Israel.
"As a steadfast ally and friend to Israel, Canada calls for
all efforts to be made to reduce violence and incitement and to
help build the conditions for a return to the negotiating
table," Dion said in the statement on Sunday.
His spokesman, Joe Pickerill, elaborated on Monday by saying
that Canada was not trying to create a "faux balance" by
equating violence by either side, but felt the need to speak
out.
"We're not necessarily equating the violence by any means on
both sides, but there have been issues, and we need to be in a
position to point that out," Pickerill said after more than 100
days of violence between the two sides.
Dion's statement drew a swift attack from the Conservative
Party, which had adopted a resolutely pro-Israel policy while in
power, for not laying blame "for recent terrorist rocket and
knife attacks with Hamas, a listed terrorist organization in
Canada."
The Conservatives, who lost the October election to the
Liberals, said that by omission, the statement "equates such
terrorist attacks with Israeli settlement construction. This is
unacceptable."