Canada and the Birth of Israel

A Study in Canadian Foreign Policy

Nonfiction, History, Middle East, Israel, Canada, Jewish
Cover of the book Canada and the Birth of Israel by David Bercuson, University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David Bercuson ISBN: 9781442633520
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division Publication: December 15, 1985
Imprint: Language: English
Author: David Bercuson
ISBN: 9781442633520
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Publication: December 15, 1985
Imprint:
Language: English

Canadian Zionists of the 1930s were anxious to involve their government in the Palestine question. The pressure they brought to bear was fuelled by a new urgency when British policy in Palestine denied entry to Jewish refugees from the Nazi terror. Today there is a widely held impression that the Canadian government responded quickly and sympathetically to that pressure. Jews and Arabs alike, each for their own purposes, have created the image of a Canada friendly to Zionism, and of Canadian policy directed by such pro-Zionists as Lester Pearson.

But as David Bercuson demonstrates, the truth is far more complex. In fact, Zionist efforts to involve Canada in the Palestine question met with considerable resistance from Ottawa, even when Canada was elected to membership on the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine in 1947. The partition of Palestine was eventually supported by Canada, but begrudgingly. Ottawa viewed partition as the ‘least lousy’ solution to a problem that was acutely sensitive both diplomatically and politically.

Hardly the champions of Zionism that it has generally been considered, Canada is revealed in Bercuson’s study as having established a middle east policy, not on moral or ideological grounds, but on the basis of the politicians’ view of its own national interests.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Canadian Zionists of the 1930s were anxious to involve their government in the Palestine question. The pressure they brought to bear was fuelled by a new urgency when British policy in Palestine denied entry to Jewish refugees from the Nazi terror. Today there is a widely held impression that the Canadian government responded quickly and sympathetically to that pressure. Jews and Arabs alike, each for their own purposes, have created the image of a Canada friendly to Zionism, and of Canadian policy directed by such pro-Zionists as Lester Pearson.

But as David Bercuson demonstrates, the truth is far more complex. In fact, Zionist efforts to involve Canada in the Palestine question met with considerable resistance from Ottawa, even when Canada was elected to membership on the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine in 1947. The partition of Palestine was eventually supported by Canada, but begrudgingly. Ottawa viewed partition as the ‘least lousy’ solution to a problem that was acutely sensitive both diplomatically and politically.

Hardly the champions of Zionism that it has generally been considered, Canada is revealed in Bercuson’s study as having established a middle east policy, not on moral or ideological grounds, but on the basis of the politicians’ view of its own national interests.

More books from University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division

Cover of the book The Greening of Canada by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Absent Citizens by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Federalism and Policy Development by David Bercuson
Cover of the book One Job Town by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Watching YouTube by David Bercuson
Cover of the book The Fur Trade in Canada by David Bercuson
Cover of the book On the Edge of Empire by David Bercuson
Cover of the book The University and Business by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Remembering and Forgetting in Acadie by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Writing Beloveds by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Empire and Nations by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Why Delinquency? by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Military Workfare by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Caddisflies by David Bercuson
Cover of the book Dire Straits by David Bercuson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy