Layton, Davies, and rest of NDP offered trip to Israel

I had imagined exactly that, Michelle - and with photographs.

This would be grotesque after the homophobic attacks on Libby Davies by the supporters of Israel.

If he goes, they can keep him.

Michelle wrote:

If I were Jack, I'd tell them, "I'm sorry, but your organization attacked my Deputy Leader with a homophobic slur on Twitter, so I'm afraid I can't go on your trip.  Perhaps you should ask your communications department to publicly apologize, grovel, and resign."

I think that would be a very weak reason to turn down the trip. First they'd have to publicize the tweet - because no one knows about it. Then, they'd be asked by the media: "Well, it was a dumb tweet, but it wasn't really CIC calling her a mouthy lesbian, it was quoting a media article calling her that, and anyway they removed it almost immediately, and they tell us this offer of a trip is partly their way of apologizing for the blunder and a chance to mend fences,..." Blah blah.

Not good.

And what if there had been no tweet? Should they accept the junket?

Layton should turn it down by saying that the NDP, like Canada, must not risk its credibility in standing for a just and peaceful settlement of the Middle East issues by accepting such a paid visit by lobbyists for one side.

If he really had any nerve, he could say that his trip can wait until Israel does something to bring itself within international law - like unconditionally lifting the blockade of Gaza.

Karl Bélanger, senior press secretary of the NDP, was quoted as saying:

Quote:

“Many New Democrats have been to the Middle East over the years, some of them at the initiative of the Canada-Israel Committee.”

That helps to explain a lot.

Re: #14: that's amazing to hear, U.

Unionist wrote:

If he really had any nerve, he could say that his trip can wait until Israel does something to bring itself within international law - like unconditionally lifting the blockade of Gaza.

When Libby Davies went on her trip to Gaza did she first insist on some sort of gesture by that side? Like releasing Gilad Shalit? Or comitting to cease firing rockets into Sderot?

Star Spangled Canadian wrote:

Unionist wrote:

If he really had any nerve, he could say that his trip can wait until Israel does something to bring itself within international law - like unconditionally lifting the blockade of Gaza.

When Libby Davies went on her trip to Gaza did she first insist on some sort of gesture by that side? Like releasing Gilad Shalit? Or comitting to cease firing rockets into Sderot?

I'm sure if she had gone as Hamas's all-expenses-paid guest, she might have raised those issues.

Slumberjack wrote:

Unionist wrote:

If he really had any nerve, he could say that his trip can wait until Israel does something to bring itself within international law - like unconditionally lifting the blockade of Gaza. 

If he had...but he doesn't, so he and a select pack of fellow sycophants will soon be on their way as honoured guests of the occupier. Actually if he had any nerve, they have a rather peculiar vacation package available for intrepid tourists wanting to get a sense of the local customs and lay of the land. You start out on a Mediterranean cruise with a flotilla of adventure seekers.  If he books early enough, there may even be space available for the fawning apologists to tag along, like they usually do.

It would give him a chance to brush up on his German and learn about the holocaust. 

I can think of no good reason for at least one of them not to go, even if they suspect the offer may be being made in bad faith.

If they go and don't get access to people they want, or if they are shadowed to the degree that they cannot function then they can say they did not get a fair opportunity to see things for themselves.

I also don't think their acceptance would lend credibility to the Israeli state. There is no way that a political visit - specifically one being made to evaluate charges of piracy and countless other offences - would automatically lead to that conclusion.

If there is any trap in this offer, it is the one they will walk into if they DO refuse and at least one of them does not visit. Israel will be able to claim that the NDP will not even bother to hear their case. While the more enlightened among us will see through that ruse, the general public will not, and the Conservatives will most certainly use it to make political hay.

If the NDP needs to tour the Middle East to appease the Israeli lobby then I suggest they pay their own way and begin in Turkey to talk to the flotilla organizers and then on to Lebanon to assess any lingering damage from the Israeli invasion and then go onto Gaza and the West Bank to see the humanitarian conditions the generous Israeli government provides for the harbourers of terrorists.

Then they would be ready to take a tour of Israel and be able to ask knowledgeable and insightful questions of their Israeli hosts.

Well, if the NDP is only interested in a "balanced" approach to the Middle East, then why not call the whole thing off? You know, made up their mind already and all.

How about, instead,  a trip to as many Canadian Aboriginal Reserves as possible? I understand there are a lot of problems that need publicity and addressing. Yup.

This thread demonstrates how completely absurd babble has become.  The NDP is now being attacked because some other group says they are going to invite Layton and Davies on a tour.  Not for anything anyone in the NDP has done of course, but just because a group is going to invite people to something- which they may or may not actually do.  You have all jumped the shark on credibility on anything you post.  If you could hold off until something actually occurs that would be peachy.

Hey Life, don't rain on their parade, let them run at the mouth, that way more people will see how ludicrous they really are, on the topic of the NDP.

Let their Liberal light show........ :D

Michelle wrote:

Looks like the Canada-Israel Committee, who just last week blasted a homophobic slur at Libby Davies on Twitter, is now offering her and the rest of her party a trip to Israel.

I've been away for a few days and didn't hear about this story.  What was said about Libby Davies?

The correct site is:http://Mondoweiss.net/

Frustrated Mess wrote:

Doug wrote:

I'd accept, on the condition that the NDP caucus also spends a few days learning about Gaza or the West Bank

Via a Likud PowerPoint?

No, I meant actually going there and being hosted by the Palestinians for that time.

The current paradigm. Meaning, one is not allowed to criticize any Israeli policy or one is by definition an Anti-Semetic bigot.

Layton is already guilty of associating with apologists for a murderous group. What is the difference between his meeting with CIC and a meeting with "Friends of AlQaida" a few weeks after Sptember 11, or even now ?

The NDP might as well go on the junket since their main strategic goal seems to be placating the Israel lobby.  Their "even-handed" approach to a situation in which Israel subjects Palestinians to ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide is de facto collusion with Israel.  No amount of pious regret and crocodile tears over the recent flotilla murders changes the basic fact that the NDP joins the rest of the Canadian political "mainstream" in enabling Israeli crimes.  I feel really bad for Libby Davies who is currently the only honourable exception to the NDP's cowardice on this issue. 

If you think there is cowardice, Libby is very much a part of it. People have a deluded idea of the suppressed Saint Libby, who but for the shackles placed on her by her colleagues, would be out there on the barricades.

And its not in the least about placating "the Israel lobby". To the degree it is about placating and pandering, and arguing how much of that is an exercise in futility, the pandering is to Canadian voters.

Canadians in general, with lots of notable exceptions, but still the vast majority start from a position of quite uncritical support of what Israel determines to be its so-called "security needs". The events of the last few years have changed that uncritical support a lot. People didn't like the genocide in Gaza. [Although its no small deal that they don't know how reuthless that was in intent as well as outcome.]

And the flotilla massacre has really done a number on Israel's standing.

But if the NDP can be tagged with doubts, and doubts is all that it is required, that it supports Israel's right to exist, then people will turn on the NDP [and all people speaking up for Palestinians for good measure].

Dont think swift boating cant work in Canada.

And Libby's accidental flub, ahd it been left open, was the door to that kind of swift boating.

John Kerry and the Democratic Party flubbed the handling of the swift boating with their timidity. But that does not mean that the opposite- simplistic notions of "speaking the truth"- would have worked.

KenS wrote:

Canadians in general, with lots of notable exceptions, but still the vast majority start from a position of quite uncritical support of what Israel determines to be its so-called "security needs". The events of the last few years have changed that uncritical support a lot. People didn't like the genocide in Gaza. [Although its no small deal that they don't know how reuthless that was in intent as well as outcome.]

Ken, I actually don't think this is true. As I've mentioned before, polls I've seen show that only about 15% of Canadians describe themselves as sympathizing more with Israel, compared to an equal number who sympathize more with the Palestinians and about 70% who are neutral and just wish everyone would recognize everyone else's right to exist and lay down their arms. I think that there is a certain segment of opinion leaders and pundits who start from a "position of quite uncritical support of what Israel determines to be its so-called "security needs"" - but I think that the vast majority of canadians really don't give a damn.

BTW: I was talking to someone who knows someone who works for an NDP MP who represents a blue collar Ontario riding. Apparently after the Libby Davies controversy - their office was deluged with HUNDREDS of e-mails from New Democrats and Palestinian sympatizers across Canada expressing support for Libby Davies and even more deluged with HUNDREDS of letters and e-mails from the "pro-Israel lobby" condemning Libby Davies and demanding that she be fired etc... AND NOT ONE SINGLE SOLITARY PIECE OF CORRESPONDENCE  from anyone who actually lived in the riding!

Draw what conclusions you wish from that.