Since our December 12 vote at the UN calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Canada has done nothing to support it. One political force has decided to DO something. The Houths are enforcing a blockade on Israeli vessels passing through the Red Sea. Why are they doing it? Max Blumenthal of the Grayzone asks an official Houthi spokesperson what they want. Read more…

The USA has mounted a coalition to stop the Houthis from “imperilling international trade” and have declared them a “terrorist” group, even though so far they have killed no one. The coalition has launched missile strikes on the Houthis. Canada has joined in.

Canada’s misleading public statement refers to the “illegal and reckless Houthi attacks against vessels transiting the Red Sea”. In fact, as of January 25th, only ships sailing to Israel or owned in part by Israelis have been targeted. The Canadian statement makes no mention of the Houthi’s declared objective of supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.

Max Blumenthal of the Grayzone interviewed Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, senior political officer and spokesman for Yemen’s Ansarallah (Houthi) movement, to get their version of the story.

As the Houthi spokesman sees it, if the US (and Canada) want the Houthis to stop the blocade, the simplest approach is to get Israel to stop the bombing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca