Prime Minister Harper congratulates Israel on its 60th anniversary

Prime Minister Harper today issued the following statement on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel:

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish to congratulate the people of Israel on the 60th anniversary of their country’s founding. Israel is a symbol of the triumph of hope and faith.

Founded three years after the Holocaust, it is one of the great miracles of modern history. Over the past six decades, Israel has blossomed into a land of ingenuity and enterprise, an oasis of agricultural genius, a wellspring of fine art and high culture, a model of democracy.

“We count ourselves among Israel’s staunchest friends. Canada has supported Israel and its right to live in peace and security with its neighbours since its creation in 1948.

“Canada warmly welcomes the strong partnership that has developed between our two countries — a partnership we look forward to strengthening, including in important areas such as security, trade and investment.

“At the heart of relations between Canada and Israel is the dynamism of our shared communities. We look forward to the next 60 years and beyond.”

At Covenant Zone we stand with Israel. I once created a small video tribute to express the same sentiments as Prime Minister Harper does so ably in his own personal tribute today; we both admire Israel for what the nation teaches us about the strength that can come with faith.

Thank You, Israel. Studying your history, learning from your faith, has helped me to persevere through my own struggles to become closer to God in living a life of meaning.

For Queen and Country

The other day I was having a conversation with someone who used the expression "menials". "What do you mean, menials," says I.

"The menials do the ordinary housework that the courtiers won't touch."

So what do the courtiers do?

Well, today comes the answer: they let the world know that the Queen is, how do they put it, not amused by the Archbishop and his calls for Sharia:

According to a royal source, the Queen has not expressed any view on whether Dr Rowan Williams was unwise to say it was "unavoidable" that aspects of the sharia legal system could be incorporated into English law.

But as Supreme Governor of the Church of England she has been dismayed by the controversy that the remarks have generated at such a difficult period in the history of the Established Church, which faces possible schism over the issue of homosexual clergy.

The Queen, who approved the appointment of Dr Williams on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, takes her role as Supreme Governor very seriously.

One royal source said: "I have no idea what her view is on what the Archbishop said about sharia law. But the Queen is worried, coming at such a difficult time in the Church's history, that the fallout may sap the authority of the Church."
[...]
Another royal courtier said: "The whole thing has not been skilfully handled. It can only have undermined the authority of the Church."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman declined to comment.

H/T Up Pompeii who argues:

Statements such as this do not get issued lightly and the words used go much further than a critique of the Archbishop, this is a clear indication that HRH is not happy at all with the Islamic presence in the UK.

HRH is obviously aware of the crisis within her realm and she has now broken her silence, we can only hope for more of the same.

We were happy to note last week that the Royal Family is granting the use of Windsor Castle for a special dinner to mark Israel's 60th anniversary. Again, the speculation is that the Queen is sending the British government a message on what values it should be upholding.

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