In December, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed the most far-right government in the country’s history. With openly racist supporters of terrorism now holding key ministerial positions in Israel’s apartheid state apparatus, even some pro-Israel groups in North America have expressed moderate disapproval.

Despite initially ignoring concerns about the racists in Netanyahu’s cabinet, the Biden administration is supposedly trying to “limit” their influence — though military ties between the two countries remain more entrenched than ever. In Canada, the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has given no sign that it will take any steps against the Netanyahu government, even its most overtly extremist elements.

This fits a long pattern of Ottawa failing to speak up against Israel’s egregious abuses, and highlights Trudeau’s unwillingness to move on the lowest-hanging fruit in terms of condemning violations of Palestinian rights. On the contrary, the Liberal government is happy to tolerate Israel’s most dangerous escalations of violence, offering at best mealymouthed statements of concern in response to acts of aggression.