“In much of the Western world, the old hatred has been translated into more sophisticated language for use in polite society,” Mr. Harper said.

“People who would never say they hate and blame the Jews for their own failings or the problems of the world, instead declare their hatred of Israel and blame the only Jewish state for the problems of the Middle East.”

While the Prime Minister said it’s legitimate to criticize Israel’s government, he insisted there is something more sinister in those who single out Israel for the problems of the Middle East.

“Most disgracefully of all, some openly call Israel an apartheid state,” he said, according to a draft copy of his speech. “Think about that. Think about the twisted logic and outright malice behind that – a state, based on freedom, democracy and the rule of law that was founded so Jews can flourish, as Jews, and seek shelter from the shadow of the worst racist experiment in history – that is condemned. And that condemnation is masked in the language of anti-racism.”

He argued that Western nations must support a threatened democracy in Israel not only out of a “moral imperative” but out of “strategic importance” – that the same threats are aimed at all Western democracies, only Israel is closer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-stresses-moral-imperative-of-backing-israel/article16405540/