Stephen Harper’s diplomacy

The Prime Minister commends President Barack Obama’s comments on Israel in their "totality," but blocks any mention of 1967 from appearing in the G8’s communique.

Diplomats involved in Middle East discussions at the G8 summit said Ottawa had insisted that no mention of Israel’s pre-1967 borders be made in the leaders’ final communique, even though most of the other leaders wanted a mention.

President Barack Obama last week laid out a vision for peace in the Middle East, saying pre-1967 borders should be a basis of talks to achieve a negotiated settlement. Israel quickly dismissed the idea as unworkable. "The Canadians were really very adamant, even though Obama expressly referred to 1967 borders in his speech last week," one European diplomat said.