Writing in the Toronto Star, Haroon Siddigui argues, 'Israel becoming its own worst enemy.'
He talks about the growing democratic deficit with politicians out of step with the public's response to the massacres in Gaza, singling out Ignatieff for 'parroting' Harper on this issue:
"Now Michael Ignatieff is parroting Harper. An ostensible lifelong
advocate of human rights, he is defending what human rights groups are
condemning as possible war crimes.
Given the disparity between the Harper-Ignatieff position and Canadian public sentiment, we face a growing democratic deficit.
Similarly, in echoing the official line on the Middle East, most
mainstream media outlets – already losing customers and revenues – face
greater estrangement from consumers.
The web, crackling with a range of views, is attracting increasing traffic and not just from the partisans.
It
is mostly from there that one learns of prominent Canadians, while
condemning both Israel and Hamas, beseeching Harper to work for a
ceasefire:
Right Rev. David Giuliano, moderator of the United
Church: "The current crisis in Gaza is a tragic consequence of the
hatred and hostility bred by the occupation."
Ken Georgetti,
president of the Canadian Labour Congress: "We call on you to urge
Israel to end its year-long blockade and reopen the border crossings so
that aid can reach the people suffering from shortages of food, fuel
..."
Ken Lewenza, president of the Canadian Auto Workers Union:
"The blockade over the past year, which Canada supported, has already
created a humanitarian crisis. There's no justification for the
collective punishment of civilians."
The Steelworker Toronto Area Council: "End the massacre of Palestinian civilians."
We have seen this movie before, several times..."