In my latest National Post column I provide Canada's Prime Minister with the independent inquiry he demanded into Israel's use of force to protect its borders against Hamas terrorism.

The "Israel for Canadians" documentary fundraising campaign on Kickstarter just concluded and, I'm sorry to say, fell well short of its target. So it won't get made. At least not this year and perhaps not exactly as described.

I'm very grateful to everyone who did back it. (Kickstarter being an "all or nothing" platform those who pledged through it won't get charged; you don't need to do anything. And I'll be in touch with those who contributed through other channels about refunds.) I'm also grateful to all those who worked to help publicize it, through social media and otherwise.

Over the next few months I'll be giving some thought to why the funding effort failed, from flaws in the fundraising campaign to defects in documentary design and presentation. I'm convinced the cause is important so I'm not by any means giving up on it. But I apologize to those whose hopes were raised by a project I wasn't able to make happen, at least this time.

Again, thanks very much to everyone who did back and help promote it. 

In my latest National Post column I argue that the time to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is now, and always was.

Thanks to everyone who has pushed the "Israel for Canadians" funding campaign past the 10% mark. But there's still a steep hill to climb and less than 4 weeks to climb it. So if you want to help set the record straight on the dynamic, open, peace-loving Jewish homeland, the only democracy in the Middle East, and you haven't yet backed the project, please make a pledge today and share it on social media and elsewhere.

If you are a backer, thanks for the contribution and please keep helping spread the word so we can get to 25%, 50%, 75% and then by the April 2 deadline to 100% and maybe beyond.

As always there's a stretch goal; if we get significantly past our basic target I will also make an "Israel for North Americans" version and perhaps one for Australians and others. But first things first.

Let's get it funded.

My latest crowd-funded documentary project "Israel for Canadians" is now live on Kickstarter.

Too many Canadians have somehow acquired a mistaken impression of Israel as a regional bully, a fortress under siege, an intolerant, chauvinistic or even theocratic culture, or a colourful museum. I want to dispel all such illusions, showcasing its technological achievements, its contemporary culture, its environmental movement, its vigorous debates on everything from religion to security, its very real security challenges and its inhabitants' abiding desire for peace.

If you value the only democracy in the Middle East, a dynamic, open society, an ally of the West, the home of one great world religion and the birthplace of another, please visit Kickstarter and make a pledge.

Because as the late George Jonas once put it, "Truth unasserted is a lie unopposed."