Canadians Find Other Ways To Be Heard

[Purveyor]

Canada used to have a more balanced view than the United States of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Now both the Conservative government and the Liberal opposition are competing to see who can be more pro-Israel. That's their right. They will reap their reward or take their lumps in the next election.

But equally clearly, their narrative is divorced from the reality of the conflict: the reality of how most of the world, including human rights organizations, views what Israel did in Gaza, and the emerging reality of a policy shift in Europe and even the U.S.

The Tory-Liberal position is also out of tune with Canadians in general and a grassroots movement in particular, including an increasingly vocal minority of Jewish Canadians, against Israeli excesses.

The Gaza operation, besides all the unconscionable horrors it inflicted on the essentially defenceless Gazans, has proven costly for Israel. Israel not only stands accused of operating out of the bounds of international law and norms, it failed to achieve its main objective: destroying Hamas.

The leadership of Hamas is intact despite the bombing blitz. Gazans have not risen up against Hamas, nor is their spirit broken, despite the killing and maiming of their kith and kin, as well as the destruction of their homes and homeland. In fact, Hamas has emerged stronger – just as Hezbollah did after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006.

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THE STAR: http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/604583