By Dr. Bryan Brulotte
Canada faces a moment of moral and strategic consequence. Around the world, democracies are confronting aggressive, ideologically driven regimes that reject pluralism, the rule of law, and the norms that sustain international stability. Nowhere is this challenge sharper than in the Middle East, where Hamas, Hezbollah, and the theocratic regime in Iran wage a relentless campaign of violence. In this environment, Canada’s foreign policy must be grounded in moral clarity. And that begins with firm, principled support for Israel.
Israel is not a flawless nation, none are, but it is the Middle East’s only liberal democracy. It is a society governed by competitive elections, independent courts, minority protections, and a free press. Its adversaries, by contrast, do not hide their objectives. Hamas openly rejects coexistence and calls for Israel’s destruction. Hezbollah, armed and directed by Tehran, entrenches itself in Lebanon to wage perpetual conflict. And the Iranian regime continues funding terror networks across the region while brutally suppressing its own population; women most of all.
Foreign policy is ultimately a moral declaration of the kind of world Canada seeks to shape. When a democracy is attacked by organizations whose purpose is to terrorize civilians, other democracies have an obligation to stand with it. That responsibility does not fade simply because the conflict is difficult or because some prefer comforting narratives to difficult truths.
No sovereign nation would tolerate thousands of rockets fired deliberately at its neighbourhoods or incursions designed to kill and abduct innocents. Yet Israel is routinely expected to exercise a level of restraint no other democracy could meet. No amount of idealism changes the fact that terrorists exploit the compassion of democratic societies.
Canada’s support for Israel must rest not only on security considerations, but on principle. Israel is defending more than its borders; it is defending the idea that democratic nations have the right to exist in peace. A world that condemns a democracy for defending its citizens is a world drifting into moral confusion.
At the same time, we must acknowledge clearly and respectfully that millions of Muslims, here in Canada and around the world, seek only peace, dignity, prosperity, and good governance. They reject the violent ideology of Hamas and Hezbollah. Many understand, from personal experience, the oppressive reality of the Iranian theocracy. These families should never be conflated with the extremist actors who claim to represent them. Indeed, they are often among the first victims of such extremism.
Canada must therefore state plainly: supporting Israel is not opposing Muslims. It is opposing terrorism, authoritarianism, and the weaponization of human suffering. It is standing for the universal values shared by people of every faith.
None of this absolves us of our humanitarian responsibilities. Canada should continue to support relief efforts, protect civilians, and encourage long-term political solutions. But humanitarian concern does not require strategic blindness. A ceasefire that leaves Hamas intact is not peace; it is preparation for the next atrocity. Genuine peace requires the disarmament of those who reject peace itself.
In the end, foreign policy reflects national character. Canada has long stood for human dignity, pluralism, and democratic freedom. These values oblige courage. In an age of misinformation and moral equivalence, we must resist the temptation to equivocate.
Supporting Israel does not mean endorsing every decision of its government. It means upholding the principle that democracies have the right to defend their citizens against those who glorify terror. It means standing with the only nation in the region where Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike can vote, worship freely, and seek justice in an independent court.
The question before Canada is simple: Do we stand with a democracy under attack, or do we look away? For a country anchored in principle, the answer should be equally clear.
We must stand with Israel.
Dr. Bryan Brulotte, MStJ GCJ CD, is a decorated Canadian military veteran and former Honorary Colonel of the Governor General’s Foot Guards, as well as an accomplished entrepreneur who now leads Sterling-Trust.
