By Marney Blom and Alicia DesMarteau
It was an historic moment.
As a crowd of several hundred gathered on the lawn at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Canada, Premiere of the Government of Ontario Dalton McGuinty led an official ceremony in honour of the flag of the State of Israel.
“It is my pleasure today on behalf of Ontarians, 13 million strong,” said McGuinty, “to express our best wishes to the people of Israel on this historic day.”
Never before in Israel’s 59 year history had the Israeli flag been officially and publicly welcomed by a government outside of Israel. It was a first for the State of Israel and a first for Canada.
Israel’s Consul General for Toronto and Western Canada Ya’acov Brosh said it was the first time that the Israeli flag was raised by any foreign government outside of Israel to honour the State of Israel on its independence day. “To say that I am touched and moved will be an understatement.”
The flag raising signifies an official public recognition on behalf of the host government, in this case the government of the province of Ontario, of the sovereignty of the State of Israel.
Secondly, it is a tribute to the contributions made by Israeli immigrants to Canadian society. Thirdly, it affirms Canada’s posture to continue to faithfully support her democratic friend in the Middle East.
“The raising of the flag is the outward expression of how this community feels towards Israel,” said UJA Federation board chair David Engel. “And we don’t say it behind closed doors. It’s clear in front of the whole world that the people of Ontario support Israel and the values that Israel has.”
Government leaders and members of Ontario’s Israeli, Jewish Canadian and non-Jewish communities witnessed the ceremony.
Ontario’s Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter said: “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am that governments – and I’m not just saying our government – but governments in Ontario, have recognized the importance of the support that is needed for Israel so that it can be the beacon that it is not only in the Middle East, but in the world.”
Leading members of Ontario’s Jewish community were quick to praise the event.
“I’m delighted to see the flag go up and it feels good,” said B’nai Brith Canada executive vice president Frank Dimant. “And especially as a child of Holocaust survivors it has an extra meaning for me.”
Christians in attendance represented various Christian denominations and organizations. Many felt the magnitude of the ceremony and believed blessings would return to Canada as a result.
Mission GTA chair Hany Boghossian said “The significance of the Israeli flag being raised here in Ontario from a spiritual perspective is very profound. As we align ourselves as a province and as a nation with the destiny of the nation that God has worked with throughout prophetic history and into the future we are aligning ourselves with the plans of God for ourselves as well. And as we as Canada come into our own destiny, we are standing in alignment with the purposes of God not just for our nation but for our province and for our city.”
And so history was made.
As the Israeli flag – itself an import from Israel – caught a gentle breeze, the Israeli anthem was sung, the shofar blown and Israeli youth danced in celebration. A strong message was sent – Israel, you are not alone.
On the 59th anniversary of Israel’s independence, the government of Ontario, Canada, in the city of Toronto had officially and publicly pledged its recognition of and solidarity with the State of Israel.
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