Mr. Speaker, this week marks the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shvat, a festival that the people of Israel and Jews around the world celebrate by planting trees.
Over the past 50 years trees have had a very symbolic status in Israel. Zionist settlers have planted literally millions of trees, truly living up to the biblical passage about making the desert bloom.
This year Tu B'Shvat is much more than just a celebration of Arbour Day. This time it marks the beginning of a year long celebration of the jubilee of Israel's independence.
Fifty years ago this spring the modern state of Israel was born, ending thousands of years of exile for the Jewish people. Yesterday marked the birthday of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, one of the few freely elected chambers of democratic deliberation in the entire Middle East.
Happy birthday, Israel. Canadians salute 50 years of democracy. We look forward to the development of peace and human rights among all peoples of the Middle East.