Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opened the weekly cabinet meeting
Sunday by praising Canada for its recent decision to cut ties with Iran,
saying this constituted the type of "red line" that the world needed
to set down for Iran.
"I want to congratulate Canadian Prime
Minister Stephen Harper on the moral, courageous step he took,"
Netanyahu said, adding this was a step that showed true leadership.
Netanyahu
said the move sent a "principled message to the world that it is
forbidden for the dark regime in Iran to get nuclear weapons."
Netanyahu
called on the entire international community, "or at least its
responsible members," to follow Canada's "determined example and set
moral and practical red lines in front of the Iranians, lines that will
stop the Iranian race to obtain nuclear weapons."
Netanyahu also
praised his government's achievement during the last cabinet meeting of
the Jewish year. That this was the fourth time he was wishing the
cabinet a "Happy New Year" was in itself a rare achievement for an Israeli
government, he stated.
President Shimon Peres also welcomed Canada's decision
on Saturday night, saying “Canada has proven once again that morals
come before pragmatism, Canada has demonstrated that policy must reflect
principles and values.”
“I thank my colleague Governor- General
David Johnston, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the whole nation of
Canada for taking a stance based on the highest morals and hope that
other nations will see Canada as a moral role model,” Peres continued.
“The diplomatic isolation of Iran is an important step for the security
and stability of the entire world.”
Ottawa gave Iranian diplomats
in Canada five days to leave the country, branding the Islamic Republic
the “most significant threat to global peace and security.”
Tovah Lazaroff and Reuters contributed to this report