Media Advisory
August 7, 2009
Members of Parliament to visit Jordan and Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza), August 8 - 13th, 2009
A delegation of Members of Parliament from three of Canada's political parties depart this week for the Middle East: Jordan and Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza) to assess the humanitarian situation.
The delegation is comprised of Richard Nadeau, MP Gatineau (BQ), Borys Wrzesnewsky, MP Etobicoke Centre (Liberal) and Libby Davies, MP Vancouver East (NDP), all members of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Association.
The MPs will be accompanied by Kim Elliott, Sarah Marois and Ehab Lotayef of the peace organization Code Pink and Vancouver film maker Jase Tanner.
The delegation will be meeting with government officials in Jordan, and government officials as well as NGOs in the West Bank. From there, MPs Nadeau and Davies will be travelling to Gaza at the invitation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Canada has historically played an important role in promoting peace in the Middle East. The MPs are concerned about the current humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank and hope their visit will provide first hand knowledge and understanding to bring back to Parliament and Canadians.
"Canada has historically played an important role in promoting peace in the Middle East.."
Are you serious? Give me a break. What nonsense and an obvious demonstration of "he who pays the piper calls the tune"
It's the truth. Canada has played an important role in promoting peace in the Middle East stretching back at least to the first deployment of Canadian peacekeepers to the Sinai Peninsula. You should try educating yourself about Canada's accomplishments instead of simply spitting on them.
Canada has for years been a big supporter of Israel, the state that is the source of war and aggression in the Middle East. And in recent years Stephen Harper has made Canada Israel's #1 apologist in the world. Pretending that we have any role to play as an impartial peacemaker is ridiculous.
Note that the Parliamentary delegation is going to meet with government officials in Jordan and the West Bank, but conspicuously not with government officials in Gaza. Oh, yeah, that's because Canada has labelled that government "terrorist" - while having nothing but praise and material support for the murderous Iraeli settler regime.
Well I'm not sure what we are supporting in the Middle East other than total genocide of the Palestinians. I mean it is all too obvious Mr. Harper. How about putting on a UN uniform and standing in an open field in Gaza for a bit. I'm sure you'll change your pathetic tune soon.
And really, another visit by some more diplomats? Just what we need more talk talk talk talk talk.