Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Canada has placed the first brick in a wall that is necessary for peace and now he wants other countries to break off diplomatic ties with Iran.

The Jerusalem Post referred to Canada as the “new leader” of the free world over the weekend in response to the decision to cut diplomatic ties.  

Netanyahu also told the CBC that he did not know in advance that Canada was about to break off ties, nor did he share any special intelligence with Ottawa about an eminent attack on Iran.

Netanatyu characterized Canada’s move as a “clarion call to action” while urging other world leaders to do the same. Canadian embassy staff are to be out of Tehran by Tuesday. Former Canadian ambassador to Iran Ken Taylor, who remained in place during the Iranian revolution in 1979 while protecting American hostages, is opposed to the Canadian position.