November 24, 2006
The Liberal Party of Canada calls upon the Conservative Government to continue "scrutiny of the UNGA resolutions"
by Bahija Reghai
Background:
Liberal Press Release - Statement by the Honourable Bill Graham, Leader of the Official Opposition, on the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Israel is one of those states that are "human rights abusers" and actually "enjoy[s] exculpatory immunity." It may not be the only abuser, but it has the distinction of having started in 1948, long before today's worst abusers.
Bill Graham actually admits that the "tilt" in favour of Israel as the Globe and Mail's John Ibbitson called it, was initiated by the Liberals, something the Liberals denied when they were in power. Which politician can be trusted? Presumably because Palestinians do not have their state yet - a state more than half a century overdue, as Israel continues to oppose Palestinian self-determination -, our government's inaction indicates that it does not include Palestinians amongst those who should be "free from threats or acts of force."
It is ironic that while the last Liberal and the current Conservative governments find fault with UN resolutions' wording and claim to want balance, they see no imbalance in their implicit support of Israeli daily violations of the most basic rights of Palestinians, of international law, including humanitarian law. Following the logic used by both governments, it seems that words in resolutions are more lethal than the bombs and missiles that rain on Palestinians, and should therefore be used with greater care. Are we still in 1984?
Twisted logic and false truths will not absolve Canada from abdicating its responsibilities as High Contracting power to the Geneva Conventions. It will not put a better look on our volte-face. Our extreme partisanship will still be seen for what it is, in spite of attempts at justifying it by sham principles.
Contrary to what we are told, Israel is not "singled out," or subjected to a "discriminatory treatment." There is not an inordinate number of UN resolutions against Israel just because it is Israel. Most of the resolutions are the same, repeated year after year, because Israel has not implemented them. By taking the position it has, Canada is actually making it worthwhile for Israel to continue violating international law and putting more "facts on the grounds" that render a just peace impossible.
Furthermore, the Israeli government counts now amongst its ministers a West Bank settler who advocates ethnic cleansing of Palestinian Israelis. While his inclusion in the government stirred a debate that gets to the heart of questions about the character of Israel's democracy and the rights of minorities in the country, it has elicited no comment from our government. The inclusion in the government coalition of such an extremist does not bode well for the peace that the Canadian government claims to support.
It is clear that the decision to condone and even reward Israel for its illegal and discriminatory policies means that we are now beyond the Liberal tilt in our foreign policy. The Conservatives have keeled over.
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