British MP George Galloway barred from Canada under the Canada Israel "Public Security" Agreement

Michel Chossudovsky

March 26, 2009 British MP George Galloway was refused entry to Canada on the pretext that he supported Hamas, which is categorized by the Canadian government as a "terrorist organization." Contrary to what has been reported in the media, this was not a unilateral decision by the government of Canada. The decision was taken in close consultation with Israel under the terms of a farreaching agreement of "public security" signed by Ottawa and Tel Aviv on March 23 2008. The "Declaration of Intent" establishes a framework of bilateral cooperation in the area of "Public Security". The agreement has not been the object of debate in the Canadian parliament, nor has it received media coverage. Under the proposed agreement, the Deputy Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness of Canada is in liason with his Israeli counterpart the Director General of Public Security for the Government of the State of Israel. Together they chair a joint Management Committee. The terms reference of the Canada-Israel "Declaration" are extremely broad. They include issues of immigration and ethnic profiling, the management of borders, intelligence and the exchange of information, emergency preparedness, correctional services, prisons, law enforcement and counter-terrorism. The agreement allows for officials from the State of Israel, to play a role in Canadian "public security" including border security and immigration. Were Israeli officials present in Canada? The important question is whether Israeli officials were present in Canada and whether they were assisting their Canadian counterparts with regard to the decision to bar George Galloway. For further details see article as well text of full agreement in ANNEX, which provides detailed information on the nature of this Canadian-Israeli project. Michel Chossudovsky, March 26, 2009