"Go, Canada!"

Ed Morrissey cheers Canada's vote against--the only negative vote--a resolution at the UN's so-called Human Rights Council condemning only Israels's actions in the Gaza conflict. A Globe and Mail editorial also gets things right:

[...]

Monday's [Jan. 12] vote by the United Nations Human Rights Council is unworthy of its noble mandate to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights, and Canada was right to oppose it.

Earlier, Doubting Thomas Walkom of the Toronto Star questioned Canada's, and Mickey I.'s, support of Israel:

How to explain Canada's position on Gaza? This country used to tread a delicate diplomatic line between Israel and Palestine. But today, both the governing Conservatives and opposition Liberals are hewing tightly to Israel.

The carnage in Gaza is both lopsided and graphic. As the death toll among Palestinians rises, even neutral international bodies have become critical of Israel.

[...]

Yet both the Conservatives, through their junior foreign minister Peter Kent, and the Liberals, through newly-anointed leader Michael Ignatieff, insist that Israel bears no responsibility, that its destruction of Gaza is a measured response to Hamas' sporadic rocket attacks and that the Islamic organization is solely to blame.

For a country that once prided itself on its even-handed approach to the Middle East, Canada's new position represents a curious shift...

Not enough "nuance" for our Tom, I guess. And a Star editorial chimes in Jan. 13:

[...]

As for Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, he too says that Israel has a right "to defend itself," that Hamas is "a terrorist organization," and that Hamas "is to blame for the conflict."

Our politicians have run for cover instead of saying what needs to be said. Yes, Israel has a right to defend itself and has served notice that future rocket attacks will not be tolerated. But that point was driven home many days ago. Killing more Gazans won't enhance Israel's image, boost its security, or improve long-term hopes for peace.

In this case, silence is not golden.

How, exactly does the Star see that "notice that future rocket attacks will not be tolerated" being put into effect? Utter vacuity. The rockets are still being fired, notice or no notice.

Mark C.

Posted by markc at January 13, 2009 08:19 PM