In a speech on Monday to a gathering of international parliamentarians and experts attending a conference on combating anti-Semitism, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned of a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Canada and abroad.

He called it an evolving, global phenomenon of hateful ideologies targeting the Jewish people and their homeland, Israel. He said persecution of Jews was a primary source of injustice and conflict in the world, and that anti-Semites were using the language of “human rights” to push their hateful ideology. He stated that if left unchecked, there are those who would ignite another holocaust even today.

Referencing Jewish attacks in Mumbai in 2008, he stated, “We have seen all this before. And we have no excuse to be complacent. In fact, we have a duty to take action.” Taking an aggressive stance, Prime Minister Harper said that all Canada was “morally obligated to take a stand” and should “be relentless in exposing this new anti-Semitism.”

This is a lot of tough talk from a nation often viewed as appeasing and non-confrontational. At a time when Israel’s friends are few, Canada has shown its support even though it may have cost it a seat on the United Nations Security Council. In a secret ballot in October, the UN General Assembly voted to give Portugal the coveted position instead of Canada, raising questions in the Canadian press as to the reason why. According to Mr. Harper,

When Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand ….I know, by the way, because I have the bruises to show for it, that whether it is at the United Nations, or any other international forum, the easiest thing to do is simply to just get along and go along with this anti-Israeli rhetoric, to pretend it is just about being even-handed, and to excuse oneself with the label of “honest broker.”There are, after all, a lot more votes—a lot more—in being anti-Israeli than in taking a stand. But, as long as I am prime minister, whether it is at the UN or the Francophonie or anywhere else, Canada will take that stand, whatever the cost. Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because history shows us, and the ideology of the anti-Israeli mob tells us all too well, that those who threaten the existence of the Jewish people are a threat to all of us.

Although Canada’s friendship must come as welcome relief to tiny, beleaguered Israel, much more is needed to curb the mounting anti-Semitic trend. As Israel continues to seek support from the United States and Britain for a tougher stance on nuclear-ambitious Iran and is consistently rebuffed, watch for Israel to turn to Europe instead.

For more information on the impending fallout between America and Israel, read “The End of the U.S.-Israeli Alliance” by Stephen Flurry.