OTTAWA -- Israel’s ambassador to Canada has taken Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe sharply to task for participating in a pro-Hezbollah rally.
Alan Baker sent Duceppe a strongly worded letter last week expressing “shock and disappointment” over Duceppe’s participation in the Aug. 6 march in Montreal.
Baker called the demonstration “blatantly anti-Israeli.”
“I find it inconceivable that the leader of a major Canadian political party lends support and associates his name and that of his party, to a demonstration that glorifies a terror organization that has been outlawed in Canada and that shamelessly seeks the elimination of the state of Israel,” he wrote.
In a teleconference Tuesday with journalists and others, Baker described Hezbollah as “a gang of thugs.”
“I have no problem with demonstration and marches, but to take over the streets … where you have groups of incited people running around with flags swearing at Jews, I think this is the antithesis of Canadian values,” he said.
“Anybody who encourages this or who gives any part in this is making a very dangerous mistake.”
Duceppe marched with thousands of others — including Liberal MP Denis Coderre — in the protest. Some marchers waved Hezbollah flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans.
The Bloc leader said he took part to promote a ceasefire in Lebanon and to encourage Israel to react “with moderation” to Hezbollah attacks.
Baker wrote that Duceppe was seen as offering encouragement to Hezbollah and “forwarded a very sad and foreboding message to the people of Israel and to communities, both Jewish and Christian … that support Israel’s struggle against terror.”
In the teleconference, Baker said he plans to speak to the prime minister’s office and Foreign Minister Peter MacKay about a possible Canadian role in enforcing the United Nations-sponsored ceasefire in Lebanon.
He said he understands that Canada is heavily engaged in Afghanistan, but suggested the country could still contribute something to what is supposed to be a beefed-up UN presence in southern Lebanon.
He said Canada might be prepared to establish naval patrols to help curb arms smuggling.
It’s possible that Tzipi Livni, Israel’s foreign minister and vice-prime minister, might visit Ottawa to discuss Canada’s role, the ambassador said.
© The Canadian Press
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=cab5bb68-304d-454d-ba46-e38893829eec&k=46662
Alan Baker sent Duceppe a strongly worded letter last week expressing “shock and disappointment” over Duceppe’s participation in the Aug. 6 march in Montreal.
Baker called the demonstration “blatantly anti-Israeli.”
“I find it inconceivable that the leader of a major Canadian political party lends support and associates his name and that of his party, to a demonstration that glorifies a terror organization that has been outlawed in Canada and that shamelessly seeks the elimination of the state of Israel,” he wrote.
In a teleconference Tuesday with journalists and others, Baker described Hezbollah as “a gang of thugs.”
“I have no problem with demonstration and marches, but to take over the streets … where you have groups of incited people running around with flags swearing at Jews, I think this is the antithesis of Canadian values,” he said.
“Anybody who encourages this or who gives any part in this is making a very dangerous mistake.”
Duceppe marched with thousands of others — including Liberal MP Denis Coderre — in the protest. Some marchers waved Hezbollah flags and chanted anti-Israel slogans.
The Bloc leader said he took part to promote a ceasefire in Lebanon and to encourage Israel to react “with moderation” to Hezbollah attacks.
Baker wrote that Duceppe was seen as offering encouragement to Hezbollah and “forwarded a very sad and foreboding message to the people of Israel and to communities, both Jewish and Christian … that support Israel’s struggle against terror.”
In the teleconference, Baker said he plans to speak to the prime minister’s office and Foreign Minister Peter MacKay about a possible Canadian role in enforcing the United Nations-sponsored ceasefire in Lebanon.
He said he understands that Canada is heavily engaged in Afghanistan, but suggested the country could still contribute something to what is supposed to be a beefed-up UN presence in southern Lebanon.
He said Canada might be prepared to establish naval patrols to help curb arms smuggling.
It’s possible that Tzipi Livni, Israel’s foreign minister and vice-prime minister, might visit Ottawa to discuss Canada’s role, the ambassador said.
© The Canadian Press
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=cab5bb68-304d-454d-ba46-e38893829eec&k=46662
