Toronto (file)
Toronto (file)Serge Attal/Flash 90

In honor of Israeli Independence Day on Thursday and in a sign of the warm relations enjoyed between Israel and Canada, Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak held an Israeli flag-raising ceremony at Toronto City Hall.

In attendance was the Consul General of Israel in Toronto DJ Schneeweiss, as well as Toronto Mayor John Tory, and Toronto City Councillors. 

Various pro-Israeli groups took part as well, including the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, B'nai Brith Canada, and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, in addition to members of Toronto's Jewish community.

"It is truly an honor and privilege to raise the flag of Israel at Toronto's City Hall," said Pasternak. "Thank you to Mayor Tory for joining us and showing once again why he is such a great friend to Israel."

The Councillor went on, saying, "after all, Toronto and Israel share the values of a democratic society, free press, multiculturalism and tolerance. In Israel’s hour of need, Toronto has always been there and will always be there."

Speaking about the rising number of virulently anti-Israeli groups, he noted "in the past few years, Toronto has reaffirmed its support of Israel. My Council colleagues joined with me in condemning the disparaging ideology of the so called 'Israeli Apartheid' groups."

"We re-wrote the city's anti-discrimination policy for the first time in 15 years to help stop bullying and demonization by anti-Israel groups using public funds. We also hosted Israeli economic, cultural and youth delegations at City hall including over 20 Israeli Mayors of all faiths," said Pasternak.

As part of the ceremony, the national anthems of both Israel and Canada were sung by the Varsity Jews Choir of York University.

While Canada has been a staunch ally of Israel under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, there are fears that his opponent Justin Trudeau of the Liberal party may replace him in elections this year and change that paradigm.

Trudeau last April condemned Harper in a Farsi-language local paper of supporting Israelto gain Jewish votes - even as he called for rapprochement with Iran in the Canadian-Iranian paper.