Two Canadian views on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis
The National Post editorial board: This tragedy is the fault of the Palestinians who let their society be hijacked by extremists.
Haroon Siddiqui in the Toronto Star: The political and media establishment – in the U.S. and, lately, Canada as well – are divorced from reality.
Two very different views – and two very different views on the two different views:
Glass half-empty = The divide on the Israeli-Palestinian issue is emblematic of deep divides on many significant political issues in Canada today. We live in a time when consensus on major issues is very difficult to achieve, even within our own country.
Glass half-full = In Canada we’re lucky enough to have representatives of very different points of view empowered to communicate with us. We encourage open debate and dialogue – which might be the only reliable tool we have for repairing those deep divides.
It is a shame to watch our government turn a blind eye on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Harper`s current position is not only disappointing, but humiliating to our nation. Canada was an active player since the implementation of res.181 in 1948 . Today, rather than insisting on a viable, long term peace solution, Canada stands cowardly, behind Israeli war crimes.
I expected my country to take side of the justice, not strategic alliance, and political correctness. As if our notion of human rights and rules of war, stops at Israeli borders. And we become conditioned, to accept and justify acts, we would otherwise condemn. I wonder, has it been another country using banned ammunition on civilians , leading to deaths of hundreds of kids, would we be as agreeing?
We can`t remain silent when it comes to crimes against humanity, regardless of the entity that is conducting it.