Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hurriedly called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the Canadian prime minister asked for an impartial investigation into the shootings by Israeli forces that killed more than 100 Palestinians and wounded more than 12,000 people, including a Canadian doctor, who said he was deliberately targeted.

The Israeli lobby, enthusiastic to defend the indefensible when it comes to Israel, swung into action to put the heat on Prime Minister Trudeau to back down and back Israel even when its government defies international law, builds illegal settlements on occupied land, blockades Gaza, attacks neighbors and oppresses the people of the West Bank.

The prime minister is being supported by Canadians who hold the view that both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to security, freedom and their own state. This is anathema to the Israeli lobby, which regards Israel as above the law and the Palestinians as people to whom basic justice and human rights do not apply.

Prime Minister Trudeau has been a firm supporter of Israel, like other prime ministers going back to the creation of Israel. In the current situation, he even remained silent despite the deaths of unarmed Palestinian protesters in Gaza, which has suffered Israel’s illegal blockade for years. But when Canadian doctor Tarek Loubani was shot and wounded by an Israeli soldier and Palestinians were killed and hundreds were injured, Trudeau called for an independent investigation to probe what he called the “inexcusable” use of “excessive force and live ammunition” against unarmed protesters.

He had remained silent during the crisis even though New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party leader Elizabeth May had denounced the violence by Israel. So did international organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Group of 78, Independent Jewish Voices, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Canadian Labor Council, United Church of Canada, Palestinian Canadian Congress, Israel’s B’tslem and others. Trudeau had declared that Canada would refuse to follow the US in moving its embassy to Jerusalem and would continue to support a two-state solution under which Israel and a Palestinian state would live in peace.

But even though he only called for an independent inquiry to ascertain the facts, Canadian apologists for Israel pounced on him.

In the forefront of the attack on the prime minister were the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), B’nai Brith (BB) and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Spokespersons for these organizations invariably offer twisted arguments and bend the truth in order to defend Israeli actions.

B’nai Brith chief Michael Mostyn claimed in an article in the Toronto Sun that “Trudeau owes the Jewish State an apology” for asking for an independent inquiry rather than backing Israel.

CIJA President Shimon Fogel expressed his disappointment that the Canadian statement “contradicts the government’s long-stated position that, as a close ally and fellow liberal democracy, Israel can count on Canada’s support when its security is threatened.”

The statement ignores the fact that Israel is the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, receives formidable US economic, military and diplomatic support, bombs its neighbors at will, refuses to allow Palestine refugees who were pushed out of their homes to return, blockades Gaza and violates United Nations resolutions and also the basic rights of the people in the occupied territories.

These distortions are now being challenged in Canada even within the Jewish community. Independent Jewish Voices, consisting of courageous and conscientious Jews, supports Israel’s right to exist but it does not agree that Israel’s security is threatened. Rather, it asserts that Israeli policies deny the Palestinian people basic human rights, violate the principles of Judaism and constitute the major obstacles to peace, justice and security in the Middle East.

At the fifth annual Palestine Day on Parliament Hill that was recently organized by the Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians, Prime Minister Trudeau sent a message again expressing support for a two-state solution. The event enables politicians of all parties to voice their views and most do so, expressing their hope for a solution that is fair to both Israelis and Palestinians.

The function has been held for five years and draws a wide audience. I have attended it and have always found speakers who expressed support for a just peace. I have not heard anyone espouse anti-Semitic views or call for the destruction of Israel.

This year’s function, as usual, attracted a diverse audience. These included Neturei Karta International that represents Jews United against Zionism. Its rabbis distributed “the Authentic Torah View” on Israel and Jerusalem. It said in part: “The occupation of Palestine, the murder and expulsion of its people, and the oppression of those remaining, is in total violation of the Jewish religion and traditional Jewish values.”

In Canada differing views are expressed despite the efforts of lobbyists to silence some voices and distort reality.

Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan is a retired Canadian journalist, civil servant and refugee judge.