On November 26, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute hosted a private roundtable discussion, moderated by Casey Babb, Director of MLI’s Promised Land Project, and featuring Ambassador Dor Shapira, Head of the North America Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a special guest.
The discussion focused on Israel–Canada relations and Canada’s broader approach to the Middle East, with particular attention to the rapidly evolving regional security environment. Ambassador Shapira emphasized that Israel’s security remains paramount to all other policy objectives, especially in light of Iran’s ongoing nuclear ambitions, which continue to pose an existential threat to the region.
Participants also discussed recent shifts in the Middle East, including the neutralization of Hezbollah’s operational capacity in Lebanon and a reduced security threat emanating from Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime. These developments, while significant, were framed as part of a fragile and highly contingent regional balance.
The roundtable also explored the growing link between Islamist activism and rising antisemitism in Western societies. Participants examined how Zionism is increasingly used as a scapegoat for broader critiques of Western imperialism, and how this narrative has contributed to a polarized discourse in Canada that often pits Muslim communities and other groups against the Jewish community.
The discussion concluded with reflections on Canada’s long-term political strategy in the Middle East, with participants noting the persistent challenge posed by domestic diaspora politics in shaping foreign policy decision-making.
