News came through after business hours this Friday afternoon that the Harper government has succeeded in blocking a high profile speaker on Palestinian human rights entry to Canada. Despite appeals from the offices of MP Bob Rae, and the offices of leaders of the Bloc quebecois and NDP, the Harper government only agreed to issue a visa after office hours today (Dr. Barghouti received notice at 9PM Friday night) and after the Allenby border was closed for the week-end, effectively obstructing Mr. Barghouti's ability to travel from the West Bank. Dr. Barghouti intended to speak Saturday night in Toronto.