A Fifth Columnist?

by Eduardo del Buey

Yesterday, a former colleague of mine labelled me a “fifth columnist” for Pierre Poilievre and Benjamin Netanyahu for my article “Jihadi Joli”.

It appears that he did not like my criticism of Canada’s foreign minister, who has admitted that she has formulated Canadian foreign policy on antisemitism in Canada on the basis of what her Arab constituents believed and what would garner her votes to sustain herself as a member of parliament.

Indeed, he claimed that another Canadian foreign minister, Mitchell Sharp, had his officers gauge his constituency before taking major foreign policy decisions related to Canada and the United Nations.

That is wrong.

Because it has been done in the past doesn’t make it right. It simply reinforces an ill that infects our politics — when one places one’s own interests above those of the entire country’s.

If any one is a fifth columnist it is, in my opinion, Canada’s foreign minister. She appears to believe that Canadian foreign policy is simply a tool to help her remain in office rather that a responsibility to Canadian values and to all Canadians whom she represents on the world stage.

The result is poor policy and a stain on one’s legacy.

Indeed, to shape her reactions to the widespread growth of antisemitism in Canada as we have seen over the past year by catering to the views of her narrow Arab constituency and admit it in public is the ultimate definition of being a “fifth columnist” and not being qualified for or deserving of the title of foreign minister.

Do I support Mr. Poilievre?

The answer is a resounding no.

His Canada would be a disaster in my eyes — a reflection I have often made in past columns.

But his standing up to antisemitism in Canada and to the street and campus protests we have witnessed over the past year is the right call, and one that any leader who stands for the rule of law and basic human decency should follow.

I will stand by this even though I will never share Mr. Poilievre’s political agenda or vision of Canada.

As far as my former colleague is concerned, my columns are meant to share an opinion — something I do after 37 years as a Canadian diplomat as well as having served for two years with the U.N. Secretary-General — a job that took me to Gaza and the territories and gave me an insight as to how perfidious antisemitism infects the uppermost reaches of that organization and appears on the streets and campuses of our country today.

I welcome reactions to my columns.

Indeed, I add a button for readers to share their views so that we can engage in respectful debate and reach an understanding of what affects our daily lives.

Sharing views and discussing our differences respectfully is the essence of democratic debate.

And that is why I write.