A Canadian Jewish legislator lost out on an attempt for a “million dollar shot” with Prime Minister Stephen Harper during a visit to the Western Wall (Kotel), Canadian media reported.
Jewish Conservative Member of Parliament Mark Adler is looking ahead to next year’s election in his district where nearly 20 percent of the residents are Jewish.
Adler, rebuffed by one of Harper’s staff for a photograph of his standing with the prime minister at the Kotel, tried again. “This, it’s the re-election. This is the million-dollar shot,” Adler said.
The staffer replied, “I’m sorry, listen, you and 300 other people.”
After his remarks were reported, Adler insisted he was joking and said, “You guys don’t get a joke, huh? It’s all said tongue-in-cheek.”
Failing to use the Western Wall pilot to win possible votes, Adler settled for a Twitter photo showing entourage leaving the area and a tweet stating, “Leaving the Kotel in Jerusalem with @pmharper and the Canadian delegation.”
Harper wrapped up his maiden visit to Israel and moved on to Jordan, where he offered $150 million in aid to help the kingdom take care of Syrian refugees and respond to the threat of chemical weapons.
In his visit to the Palestinian Authority earlier this week,. Harper announced $66 million in aid for the Abbas government.