Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Stephen Harper

Canadian Prime Minister

The Canadian prime minister’s government has been one of the few staunch advocates of Israel on the global stage. An ally through and through, Canada, of which Harper has held the top government post since 2006, was one of only nine countries to vote against a Palestinian statehood bid at the UN in November. In June of 2012, it was revealed that Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay told Israel’s top military commander at the time, Maj.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, during a 2011 visit to the Middle East, that “a threat to Israel is a threat to Canada.” Leading a country that has historically shied away from contentious international issues, Harper has proved willing to place his government directly at the center of one of the most controversial issues, almost always on Israel’s side.