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[Miles Quaritch]

There's a video at the link.

Palestinian protesters have thrown eggs at Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird as he was visiting the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Mr Baird was not hit, though some eggs struck his motorcade.

Canada is considered one of Israel's closest allies.

It voted against the Palestinians' successful UN bid to become a non-member state and has opposed their recent move to join the International Criminal Court.

Mr Baird was in Ramallah to meet Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, during a five-day trip to the region. His visit came a day after the ICC said it was opening a "preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine".

Mr Baird said he and Mr Malki had held "cordial and constructive" talks that included "candid and frank exchanges on areas where we differ in opinion".

"I asked that the minister strongly reconsider the consequences of moving forward with any action that may be counterproductive to a negotiated solution with the state of Israel."

He criticised Mr Baird for meeting Israeli officials in occupied east Jerusalem in 2013.

Later on Sunday, Mr Baird met Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem. Arriving there, he said an ICC decision to open its preliminary examination was "deeply regrettable".

Mr Lieberman thanked Canada for its support. "The opposition of one of the founders of the ICC is very important, maybe crucial," he said.

The Palestinians will formally join the ICC on 1 April and have asked it to investigate Israeli "crimes" since June 2014.

This covers events prior to and during last summer's conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza.

Israel and the US have strongly criticised the Palestinians' move.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30871252

Didn't know that Canada had voted against Palestinians in both becoming UN non member state and joining the ICC.

Surprising.

 

[Mrmartel]

I dislike The conservative attitude to this conflict. Practically speaking too, it doesn't benefit them back home either. The Muslims are natural conservatives and this blind support of Israel is turning them away from the party. It doesn't have any affect on the Jewish vote either. As Jews still typically vote overwhelmingly for the Liberals. Nevermind that the actions that Israel take (at times) are grossly out of proportion to both lives and damage to infrastructure that the Palestinians make against them. Added to that, the constant oppression in various areas that Israel enforces as well.

 

[Stet]

I dislike The conservative attitude to this conflict. Practically speaking too, it doesn't benefit them back home either. The Muslims are natural conservatives and this blind support of Israel is turning them away from the party. It doesn't have any affect on the Jewish vote either. As Jews still typically vote overwhelmingly for the Liberals. Nevermind that the actions that Israel take (at times) are grossly out of proportion to both lives and damage to infrastructure that the Palestinians make against them. Added to that, the constant oppression in various areas that Israel enforces as well.

Too bad you only vote for your and your family's interests though, otherwise you could do something about it.

 

[Mrmartel]

Too bad you only vote for your and your family's interests though, otherwise you could do something about it.

Or try to turn attitudes around within my abilities in the conservative circles I attend. It's an uphill battle tho, along with environmental issues.

 

[Loofy]

Whats this deal with trying to block palestine from joining the UN and the ICC. I mean I know why they wouldnt want them to join but how the heck would they be able to spin that in the public statement?

'Err the reason we dont want you to join is.. err.. we'd rather you not have a voice.'

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

What every Canadian has been thinking about doing but didn't have the guts to do.

 

[speculawyer]

Well . . . he's a brave guy to go there. I hope he talked with them and learned their views.

 

[speculawyer]

I dislike The conservative attitude to this conflict. Practically speaking too, it doesn't benefit them back home either. The Muslims are natural conservatives and this blind support of Israel is turning them away from the party. It doesn't have any affect on the Jewish vote either. As Jews still typically vote overwhelmingly for the Liberals. Nevermind that the actions that Israel take (at times) are grossly out of proportion to both lives and damage to infrastructure that the Palestinians make against them. Added to that, the constant oppression in various areas that Israel enforces as well.

Well, as in the USA, the political appeal is not much for Jewish voters (who are a pretty small minority) but instead for Christian Zionists & Evangelicals.

 

[Llyranor]

All 3 main parties in Canada are pro-Israel, it's unfortunately not just the Conservatives.

 

[KorrZ]

As long as the USA has a pro-Israel no matter what stance then Canada will tow the line. Sadly that's what our country does best.

 

[Mrmartel]

Well, as in the USA, the political appeal is not much for Jewish voters (who are a pretty small minority) but instead for Christian Zionists & Evangelicals.

Ya the protestant evangelical Christians I come across are fanatical in their support in Israel. I've always wondered where this support came from. Some influential leader of theirs from the past? In Catholicism (which I practice) there is much less support for Israel and more condemning of the destruction they commit. At least at the local church/diocese level. The pope try's to maintain a balance I suppose.

 

[gutter_trash]

Harper's Conservatives are the first Canadian Government to adopt such Black & White position in a long long time on that issue.

Stephen Harper is playing politics on a domestic level just for votes.
The Jewish-Canadian community mostly votes Liberal; and this posturing from Harper is electoral, just for votes.

same with Harper's head butting antics towards Putin. Canada has a large Ukrainian community that mostly votes Liberal; this another electoral ploy just for votes

in contrast, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (who was a Progressive Conservative) would take nuanced, diplomatic stances on foreign affairs. Mulroney stepped up his opposition to Apartheid in South Africa and applied pressure on Margret Thatcher to evolve her position

It is said that the Conservative party abandoned everything that was Progressive from the Progressive Conservatives in their mergers

All 3 main parties in Canada are pro-Israel, it's unfortunately not just the Conservatives.

Being Pro-Israel doesn't automatically mean you don't want peace.
Harper has been using hawkish talking points when speaking about Israel, even more so than an American President

 

[Stet]

Ya the protestant evangelical Christians I come across are fanatical in their support in Israel. I've always wondered where this support came from. Some influential leader of theirs from the past? In Catholicism (which I practice) there is much less support for Israel and more condemning of the destruction they commit. At least at the local church/diocese level. The pope try's to maintain a balance I suppose.

Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus won't come back until every Jew is back in Israel.

 

[richiek]

Ya the protestant evangelical Christians I come across are fanatical in their support in Israel. I've always wondered where this support came from. Some influential leader of theirs from the past? In Catholicism (which I practice) there is much less support for Israel and more condemning of the destruction they commit. At least at the local church/diocese level. The pope try's to maintain a balance I suppose.

These people believe that supporting Israel will lead to rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem and hasten the second coming of Jesus.

In other words, they want to bring about the end of the world ala Revelations. Scary.

 

[Mrmartel]

These people believe that supporting Israel will lead to rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem and hasten the second coming of Jesus.

In other words, they want to bring about the end of the world ala Revelations. Scary.

It's a strange attitude/belief to say the least. Definitely not something I've ever encountered in Catholicism

 

[gutter_trash]

election year in Canada.

Harper going super sayin campaign mode in Ukrainian-Canadian ridings and Jewish-Canadian ridings.

talk tough, chest pumping on foreign affairs in hopes that it turns into votes domestically among Jewish-Canadians and Ukrainian-Canadians.

Conservatives have not won a single riding in Montreal since the Mulroney era, now they are campaigning big in ridings that have large Jewish populations like the riding of Mount-Royal, he hopes that his Israel stance translates into votes.

90% of Harper's foreign affairs policies are aimed to sway votes domestically among different communities.

That is all, it's an election year. Expect Harper to chest pump about being tougher on foreign affairs than Trudeau or Mulcair.

This will probably an election year where foreign affairs takes more space than usual

 

[gabbo]

All 3 main parties in Canada are pro-Israel, it's unfortunately not just the Conservatives.

There's pro-Israel and then there's "blindly hardline, denounce anyone who sneezes in the direction of the country as anti-Semitic" pro-Israel. Harper and the Conservatives choose the second option. Baird, as the representative of the current government deserve this treatment.

 

[gutter_trash]

Thomas Mulcair has no choice to say the he is pro-Israel, lol his riding of Outremont has the largest Hassidc Jewish community of all of Canada. (and also the largest Hipster community in all of Canada)

If Mulcair speaks out against Israel, he loses his own seat

 

[Rhomega Beta]

Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus won't come back until every Jew is back in Israel.

They also need to rebuild the Temple, but the site is where the Dome of the Rock is now.

 

[Mrmartel]

election year in Canada.

Harper going super sayin campaign mode in Ukrainian-Canadian ridings and Jewish-Canadian ridings.

talk tough, chest pumping on foreign affairs in hopes that it turns into votes domestically among Jewish-Canadians and Ukrainian-Canadians.

Conservatives have not won a single riding in Montreal since the Mulroney era, now they are campaigning big in ridings that have large Jewish populations like the riding of Mount-Royal, he hopes that his Israel stance translates into votes.

90% of Harper's foreign affairs policies are aimed to sway votes domestically among different communities.

That is all, it's an election year. Expect Harper to chest pump about being tougher on foreign affairs than Trudeau or Mulcair.

This will probably an election year where foreign affairs takes more space than usual

He might do well with the Ukrainians, but he has been chasing the Jewish vote for years. It's obvious it's a fool's errand. He isn't getting anymore votes there. I do have a suspicion that some conservative voters dislike Islam. Hence the never ending support of somebody that is against them. Muslims are both a rapidly growing population in Canada and naturally conservative. If anything they should be appealing to them. I could "almost" guarantee a massive turn over of Muslim votes (from liberals/NDP) in 10 years to the cons if they made the same efforts that they do for the Jewish community now.

 

[gutter_trash]

He might do well with the Ukrainians, but he has been chasing the Jewish vote for years. It's obvious it's a fool's errand. He isn't getting anymore votes there. I do have a suspicion that some conservative voters dislike Islam. Hence the never ending support of somebody that is against them. Muslims are both a rapidly growing population in Canada and naturally conservative. If anything they should be appealing to them. I could "almost" guarantee a massive turn over of Muslim votes (from liberals/NDP) in 10 years to the cons if they made the same efforts that they do for the Jewish community now.

for sure, Harper's beliefs that a community if a one monolthic entity to thinks alike is wrong.

Jewish-Canadians have a wide variety of opinions and positions but Harper won't win in Mount-Royal. That has been Liberal country, especially since it was the former riding of Pierre Trudeau through out his political career.

 

[You Are Viewtiful]

He might do well with the Ukrainians, but he has been chasing the Jewish vote for years. It's obvious it's a fool's errand. He isn't getting anymore votes there. I do have a suspicion that some conservative voters dislike Islam. Hence the never ending support of somebody that is against them. Muslims are both a rapidly growing population in Canada and naturally conservative. If anything they should be appealing to them. I could "almost" guarantee a massive turn over of Muslim votes (from liberals/NDP) in 10 years to the cons if they made the same efforts that they do for the Jewish community now.

I know the Jewish-Canadian community (or any non-Francophones) in Montreal vote Liberal, but the ridings with a high Jewish population in the GTA (chiefly, Thornhill, but also Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Newmarket-Aurora) lean very Conservative compared to the rest of the city. It was a close race in the 2014 provincial election though, so obviously it's wrong to say the community votes monolithically.

And don't most Ukranian-Canadians live in Manitoba and Sask? They're very Conservative too.

Also worth mentioning is how Canada bullishly boycotted the Commonwealth Summit because it was hosted in Sri Lanka, another electoral tactic to appease the Tamil community in Toronto. If the 2014 provincial elections are anything to go by, it seems the community leans heavily Liberal, but it will be interesting to see if Harper's posturing changes their leanings in the long run.

 

[qizah]

John Baird is a moron.

Even with the vote coming up in October, it's like trying to find the shiniest turd out of three parties. You're still voting for a turd. That said... I still hope Harper is out, but I mean Trudeau isn't that great and Mulcair is pretty bad too.

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

John Baird is an idiot and the Harper Government's hard stance on the subject is idiotic. I want the Conservatives out so badly.

 

[squidyj]

roll back to when the israelis were stacking bodies in gaza last year and what the Conservative comments were then, that tells you everything you need to know about the fucking degenerates we have in office.

 

[Vibranium]

John Baird is a moron.

Even with the vote coming up in October, it's like trying to find the shiniest turd out of three parties. You're still voting for a turd. That said... I still hope Harper is out, but I mean Trudeau isn't that great and Mulcair is pretty bad too.

I'll take Trudeau or Mulcair any day. Even if they screw us, I don't think things will get as bad as the Conservatives/Harper Government regime. Lesser of all evils.