1967

It was a ‘giddy, insane’ year. And the events it set off are at the centre of the national debate unfolding today.

Amid all else last week, Israel’s foreign minister called to thank Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and opined publicly that “Canada is a true friend of Israel … It understands that the 1967 borders do not conform to Israel’s security needs and with the current demographic reality.”

The Israeli foreign minister calls John Baird to thank Canada for its support and a senior Israeli government official says Benjamin Netanyahu asked Stephen Harper to help exclude any mention of 1967 from the G8’s final statement. Mr. Harper’s office says the two leaders spoke, but the G8 summit was not discussed. Mr. Netanyahu’s office concurs, but the Israeli government thanks the Canadian government all the same.

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.