Hamas rejected the July 15th Egyptian ceasefire proposal out of hand. Many Canadians couldn’t understand why Hamas preferred to continue to fight given the huge civilian loss of life and injury. But that proposal only aimed to restore the “status quo”. Israel’s blockade of Gaza would remain. A remarkable letter from civil society leaders in Gaza explain why support for the Hamas position is quite broad.
(more…)
“Israel has the right to defend itself and its people. Hamas is a terrorist organization and must cease its rocket attacks immediately”, argued Justin Trudeau in a July 15th statement, echoing both Prime Minister Harper and John Baird. But he ignored the main issue. Why do the Palestinians continue to shoot those ineffective rockets into Israel? Are they crazy? Are they fanatically anti-Semitic? Or is there something that is driving them to do it? See my remarks below.
(more…)
“Hamas is responsible” claimed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, almost as soon as the kidnapping of 3 Israelis happened near Hebron, in the West Bank. He launched a massive assault on Hamas members in the West Bank which is under full Israeli military control. Over 500 were arrested. He also authorized the assassination of a top Hamas official in Gaza.
(more…)
I’m not recommending this amazing book by one of Israel’s most famous writers because I think you will like it. You almost certainly won’t. Nor did I.
(more…)
Harper and Baird are so extreme on the Israel/Palestine question that it is relatively easy to get decent people angry or dismissive of them.
However, the uncomfortable reality is that there is an all-party consensus in Canada to support Israel, almost unconditionally.
(more…)
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 