Israeli President Shimon Peres praised Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his support of Israel during his 5-day state visit beginning on Monday.
“I sense that Canada is always positive, never indifferent, never neutral,” President Peres told attendees at his official welcome ceremony at Rideau Hall, according to a report by Canadian daily Globe and Mail.
The ceremony included protection by four mounted Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a 100-man honor guard, and a 21-gun military salute.
On Tuesday, the President was scheduled to plant an eastern white pine tree – known by the Iroquois tribe as the Tree of Peace – on the vice-regal grounds.
On Parliament Hill, the Israeli president was greeted by the prime minister in the Hall of Honour. Peres called Harper an “extraordinary friend”, and told him that his support for Israel “really moved the hearts of our people.”
