Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the Reform Party to congratulate the people of Israel on the election of a new government, and in particular, to congratulate their new Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, whose close victory came after a well fought and competitive election campaign.
Through this election, the people of Israel have indicated their desire to enjoy peace with security, a desire shared by all Canadians. We encourage the new Israeli government to build on the work that has already been done to bridge the gap between Israel, the Palestinians, and the surrounding Arab countries, because long-lasting peace is the prerequisite for long term security.
We urge the Canadian government to support the Government of Israel and to continue to assist the Middle East peace process. Canada has long enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Israel, and we look forward to continuing this positive relationship under the leadership of the New Prime Minister.