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Harper was solemn as he approached the Western Wall, where millions of Jews come to pray to God. Following Jewish tradition, in which people place a small scrap of paper containing a prayer in the cracks of the wall, Harper did likewise. Then he took his time to sign a message in the guest book.

Similarly, earlier in the afternoon, he visited Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to victims of the Holocaust.

In that museum’s guest book, he wrote: “They are remembered always, in our hearts, in our prayers and most importantly in our resolve. Never again.”

Hours earlier, Harper stood with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a news conference and once again rallied to Israel’s side as a nation that he complained is unfairly singled out for criticism.

A day earlier, he delivered a passionate and historic speech at the Knesset, outlining the reasons for his fervent pro-Israeli policy and warning of the rise of a “new anti-Semitism” in the world.

Harper had planned to visit the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim shrine in Jerusalem, on Tuesday, but it was called off once Israeli security advised that their guards could not enter the building with him because they are Jews.

And so, as much as Harper is intent on convincing people that his policy is based on principle and not getting votes, there’s another reality to the trip.

In a delegation packed with more than 200 people, many of them rabbis and members of the Canadian Jewish community, there are several cabinet ministers and some backbench Tory MPs in tow — with their bills being paid by taxpayers.

Adler, who is Jewish, was a former president of the Economic Club of Canada who was first elected in the Toronto-area riding of York Centre in 2011. He defeated former Liberal cabinet minister Ken Dryden and the Conservatives are hoping to keep the seat in the 2015 election.

Other MPs — such as Joe Oliver and Peter Kent — were also at the Western Wall with Harper on Tuesday.

Not long after the event was over, Adler had tweeted: “Incredible experience at the #WesternWall – one of the most important sites for Jewish people in Canada and around the world.”

Later in the evening, Harper’s delegation was treated as guests at an official state dinner with Netanyahu.

At the Western Wall, Jews who had come to see Harper walked away pleased.

“I feel honored that Israel has the privilege to have the Canadian prime minister here,” said Abraham Davidovitz, a 34- year-old from Montreal who has been living in Israel for four years. “He is the only prime minister in the world today that loves Israel and the Jewish people. Officially, he is not shy to say it out loud.”

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