JEFFREY SIMPSON claims Canada is now "the most pro-Israel country in the world"
in Tuesday's Globe and Mail
March 24, 2009 at 12:00 AM EDT
Echoes of Israel in the graveyard of broken dreams.....
Undoubtedly, Mr. Galloway would have given offence in Canada, because he always does. His pro-Palestinian views would have offended some. His participation in a "Viva Palestina" convoy of aid delivered to the elected government of Gaza - that is, Hamas - had already riled a number of people. And that is the real reason the Harper government didn't want him in Canada: He supports Hamas.The larger lesson of this rather insignificant saga is how far the Harper government has moved to align Canada with Israel and its staunchest supporters. Canada is now the most "Israel, right or wrong" government in the world, except for the Israeli government itself.
...
The big pro-Israel organizations in Canada hailed the decision to ban Mr. Galloway. But do Canadians, while of course being supportive of Israel's existence and security, really want their country to be the most completely aligned with Israel, especially now that it is to be led by a very right-wing coalition that doesn't believe in a two-state "solution" to the Palestinian problem?
....Israel and its staunchest supporters don't like the United Nations, but a lot of Canadians do. The Harper government's "ready-aye-ready" support for Israel isn't helping Canada's campaign there for a seat on the Security Council, since a whole lot of countries (and not just Arab ones) don't want an Israeli echo on the Security Council. A pro-Israel, but more nuanced voice, perhaps; an echo, no...."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090323.wcosimp24/BN...