The tiny natural-gas-rich country of Qatar has made a bold bid to have the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (icao) moved from Montreal, Quebec, to Doha, Qatar. It set off a firestorm in Canada, with many calling it an attempt by Arab states to punish Canada for its stance on Israel and the Palestinians.

The current Canadian administration is an unapologetic supporter of the tiny nation of Israel. And it’s catching the attention of many Arab and Muslim nations. Arab ambassadors at the United Nations in New York met on April 23 to discuss Canada’s perceived bias toward Israel. “The Arab ambassadors discussed banding together and lobbying other states to join them in supporting Qatar’s bid to send a message to Canada about their displeasure,” according to Postmedia News.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird attacked Qatar’s action by stating, “The way Qatar has gone about this [without any consultation with Canada] demonstrates why it’s not a suitable host for this United Nations organization.” Baird said that in his visit to Qatar only a few weeks ago the issue was never brought up. The bid came as a complete surprise to him.

Maintaining the icao in Canada is so politically and economically important to Canada that the issue is uniting the federal Conservatives and Quebec’s separatist Parti Quebecois, which are traditional political rivals. The icao has over 500 employees and brings in approximately $119 million annually to Montreal’s economy. Losing this organization would be a political kick in the teeth for Canada’s Conservative government and the economy in general.

According to its website, the icao was created to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world. It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental protection.

The Globe and Mail stated that “Qatar has made a gold-plated offer that reportedly includes a state-of-the-art facility and subsidies for employees. It has also asked major Arab nations, including Egypt, to put their diplomatic machines behind efforts to muster votes” (May 2).

“We don’t think that these type of things should be for sale and we’re going to work strongly to convince other countries,” stated Baird. For the bid to succeed, Qatar will need a minimum 60 percent approval from the 191 member states.

“How can an organization that has to defend the rights and safety of workers and passengers be moved to a state whose citizens’ pleas for democracy are answered with batons and buckshot?” lamented David Cockroft, the general secretary of the International Transport Federation.

The nation of Israel and those who support it are increasingly being isolated and even reprimanded for doing so.

Joseph Lavoie, a spokesman for John Baird, stated that “Canada will not apologize for promoting a principled foreign policy.” Although this assertion is courageous, Bible prophecy indicates that anti-Israel sentiments are set to increase to the point that it will break the brotherhood that exists between Canada and Israel. Israel will ultimately look to a most unlikely ally for international support, but it will be a decision it will quickly regret. Read this article on the coming relationship between Germany and Israel.