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September 19, 2006
From: Ron
To: Graham.B@parl.gc.ca
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 4:23 PM
Subject: Questions to Liberal Leader Graham re: foreign activities of Liberal Public Safety Critic MP Cotler
Honorable Leader,
According to the August 24, Canadian Jewish News article "Cotler slams UN over ceasefire resolution" , your party's Public Safety Critic MP Irwin Cotler just returned from Israel where he met with "Israeli government officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni ". http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=9973
Based on this news, I would like to ask you the following:
1) Why did you send your Public Safety Critic to meet with the aforementioned Israeli officials?
2) Do you believe it is appropriate that your Public Safety Critic MP Irwin Cotler also be an Associate of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs , which describes itself as "an independent, non-profit institute for policy research and education serving Israel " and produces position papers such as "After the Hamas Victory: The Increasing Importance of Israel's Strategic Barrier in the Jordan Valley" which support the theft by Israel of the Jordan Valley in the West Bank in contravention of International Law, UN Resolutions and Canadian Policy? http://www.jcpa.org/jcbrd.htm http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief005-17.htm
3) Do you believe it is appropriate that your Public Safety critic MP Irwin Cotler is a member of the International Advisory Board of The Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies in Israel which states that its "publications and policy recommendations are directed at a number of audiences, including senior Israeli decision-makers, in military and civilian life, the Defense and Foreign Affairs establishments in Israel "? http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/international_advisory_board.html http://www.biu.ac.il/soc/besa/Nabout.html
4) Do you not see a conflict of interest in your Public Safety Critic simultaneously fufilling the abovementioned roles for a foreign nation ?
5) Are there other members of the Liberal caucus who also simultaneously serve as advisors or confidants to a foreign nation?
Canadians have a right to know your responses to these questions which indeed relate to " Public Safety " in Canada and indeed our nation's sovereignty. I look forward to your prompt response.
Ron Saba Editor
Montreal Planet magazine
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More on Cotler's association with the Israeli government
September 28, 2005
From: "Ron Saba" < montrealplanet@hotmail.com >
To: < pm@pm.gc.ca >; < Martin.P@parl.gc.ca >
Cc: < Harper.S@parl.gc.ca >; < Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca >; < Layton.J@parl.gc.ca >;
< margolis@foreigncorrespondent.com >; < lmcquaig@sympatico.ca >;
< hsiddiq@thestar.ca >; < bill.kaufmann@calgarysun.com >;
< jibbitson@globeandmail.ca >; < grahab0@parl.gc.ca >; < Pettigrew.P@parl.gc.ca >;
< oec-bce@parl.gc.ca >
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 12:40 PM
Subject: Irwin Cotler/BESA
Dear Mister Prime Minister,
The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) is an Israeli think
tank whose particular focus, as stated on its website is " the national
security and foreign policy of Israel". The following is the link to their
website: http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/about.html
As shown on the website, their board includes several retired Israel
military officers and politicians, including former Prime Minister Yitzak
Shamir. Canada's Justice Minister, Hon. Irwin Cotler is also listed as a
member of BESA's International Academic Advisory Board.
Appearing in the website's publications section is BESA Mideast Security and
Policy Studies Number 34 titled "Maps of Israeli Interests in Judea and
Samaria, Determining the Extent of the Additional Withdrawals" by Haim
Gvirtzman which, according to the website, was authored in 1997 and last
updated in 2001. The study includes a number of maps which have turned out
to be reasonably prescient in terms of the "Wall", land seizures, "Greater
Jerusalem", security corridors etc.
Noteworthy maps include:
"Map of Defence Interests" link
http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/publications/maps/map2.jpg
and
"Map of Water Resources" link
http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/publications/maps/map3.jpg
Given the focus of the think tank, do you feel it appropriate that Canada's
Justice Minister, Hon Irwin Cotler, is an advisor to BESA?
Respectfully,
Ron Saba,
Editor Montreal Planet Magazine
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From: "Ron Saba" < montrealplanet@hotmail.com >
To: < pm@pm.gc.ca >; < Martin.P@parl.gc.ca >
Cc: < Harper.S@parl.gc.ca >; < Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca >; < Layton.J@parl.gc.ca >;
< margolis@foreigncorrespondent.com >; < lmcquaig@sympatico.ca >;
< hsiddiq@thestar.ca >; < bill.kaufmann@calgarysun.com >;
< jibbitson@globeandmail.ca >; < grahab0@parl.gc.ca >; < Pettigrew.P@parl.gc.ca >;
< oec-bce@parl.gc.ca >
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 10:44 PM
Subject: Irwin Cotler/BESA
Mister Prime Minister,
It has been almost a month since we asked you if "Given the focus of the
think tank, do you feel it appropriate that Canada's Justice Minister, Hon
Irwin Cotler, is an advisor to BESA?" We are concerned at the lack of
response from your office on such a serious matter concerning Canada's
national security.
Mindful that Justice Minister Cotler, in his role with BESA, provides advice
to the Israeli government concerning "the national security and foreign
policy of Israel", it is unacceptable that Mr. Cotler continue to sit as a
member of the Global Affairs Cabinet Committee in your government (link
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/CabCom.asp?Language=E ).
Surely no rational person concerned about issues of Canada's national
security would view it acceptable that a Cabinet Minister who is privy to
Cabinet level discussions pertaining to Canada's foreign policy and national
security also be an advisor to a foreign think tank whose sole mandate is to
advise a foreign government on their "national security and foeign policy".
Particularly when the think tank consists of senior political and military
figures of said foreign government.
Canada is a sovereign nation. Canada's national security and foreign policy
is not "the national security and foreign policy of Israel". The idea that
our Justice Minister advises on both is scandalous. Canada should not
depend on Mr. Cotler's ability to fence off his mind into two compartments,
one concerned with Canada, one with Israel, particularly since he will be in
possession of confidential information concerning Canada's national interest
and foreign policy.
We need an independent inquiry into Mr. Cotler's dual role and we also need
an independent inquiry into your inaction in this serious matter of Canada's
national security.
And we need it now before further damage is done to our country's national
security and foreign policy.
Ron Saba,
Editor Montreal Planet Magazine
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